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New Guinea"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Polynesia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Press Release"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"PR | IMF Executive Board Concludes 2016 Article IV Consultation with Papua New Guinea"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003Evia \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.imf.org\/en\/News\/Articles\/2016\/12\/23\/PR16580-Papua-New-Guinea-IMF-Executive-Board-Concludes-2016-Article-IV-Consultation\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003EIMF Communications Department\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-N-mfpohbp9Q\/WI2IXQxp9xI\/AAAAAAAAN54\/rFMNLvmoWEkH8MKiPqYH4fodfR4F19CMgCLcB\/s1600\/Aerial_view_of_Port_Moresby_1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"PR | IMF Executive Board Concludes 2016 Article IV Consultation with Papua New Guinea\" border=\"0\" height=\"368\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-N-mfpohbp9Q\/WI2IXQxp9xI\/AAAAAAAAN54\/rFMNLvmoWEkH8MKiPqYH4fodfR4F19CMgCLcB\/s640\/Aerial_view_of_Port_Moresby_1.jpg\" title=\"PR | IMF Executive Board Concludes 2016 Article IV Consultation with Papua New Guinea\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EImage Attribute:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EAerial view of Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003ESource: Mark Matson\/ Wikimedia\/Creative Commons\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EThe Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation[1] with Papua New Guinea on November 29, 2016, and considered and endorsed the staff appraisal without a meeting on a lapse-of-time basis.[2]\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EPapua New Guinea is facing headwinds stemming from low commodity prices and is recovering from a major drought, which has weighed on economic growth, weakened the external position, and created fiscal challenges. Foreign exchange (FX) remains in short supply but inflows have recently picked up somewhat, and the gross foreign reserve position is expected to remain broadly stable. Revenues fell short of the budget in response to recent commodity price declines, prompting the Parliament to pass a supplementary budget 2016 that entails expenditure cuts. Inflation has increased somewhat, partly reflecting the exchange rate depreciation.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EAfter strong economic growth driven by the new liquefied natural gas (LNG) project coming on stream in 2014-15, the underlying growth is expected to slow down reflecting base effects following the commencement of LNG production, as well as modest growth in the non-resource sector. The large LNG exports and import compression caused by the shortage of FX led to a strong current account surplus, largely offset by financial account outflows consistent with project development agreements. Inflation is expected to continue edging upwards in the near term due to the gradual exchange rate depreciation and prices of seasonal agricultural items.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003ENear-term risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside, as fiscal retrenchment may have a greater impact on the economy than currently expected and the limited availability of FX continues to constrain imports and economic activity. A further drop in commodity prices would weaken the external and fiscal positions. In addition, natural disasters, climate change, and weather-related shocks pose continual downside risks. Over the medium term, risks are more balanced due to the upside potential of new resource sector projects.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EExecutive Board Assessment\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EIn concluding the 2016 Article IV consultation with Papua New Guinea (PNG), Executive Directors endorsed the staff’s appraisal, as follows: \u0026nbsp;As a commodity exporter, the PNG economy has been hit hard by the drop in world commodity prices and a major drought. The authorities have responded to these shocks through fiscal tightening and a combination of modest exchange rate depreciation and FX sales. Strong economic growth driven by the start of the PNG LNG project has tailed off amidst weak non-resource sector growth. Inflation has begun to pick up reflecting earlier exchange rate depreciation and increases in prices of seasonal agricultural items. Prudent macroeconomic policies are therefore essential for maintaining debt sustainability and safeguarding the external position.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EAdditional fiscal adjustment is needed to ensure debt sustainability over the medium term. While the authorities should be commended for promptly passing a supplementary 2016 budget, further adjustment may be needed in view of financing constraints. Passage of a prudent 2017 budget should be commended, which will facilitate continued fiscal consolidation over the medium term, anchored by the existing 30 percent public debt-to-GDP fiscal anchor. The pace of adjustment should continue to balance the need to maintain debt sustainability against the costs of excessive fiscal adjustment in terms of growth and poverty reduction.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EGreater revenue mobilization would create fiscal space for expenditures that would help address PNG’s huge development and social needs. Measures drawn from the National Tax Review should be adopted going forward. In the near term, efforts should be undertaken to improve tax compliance. There is considerable scope for improving the fiscal regime for extractive industries.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EGovernment expenditure quality should be improved through public financial management (PFM) reform. There is much scope for better deploying existing public sector resources towards effective public service delivery, including on core areas of health and education. Further PFM reforms should build upon the recently published public expenditure and financial accountability (PEFA) document and successes in rolling out the new information management system to encompass cash management issues. The sovereign wealth fund should be put into operation as soon as possible to help improve transparency and ensure that resource revenue is used in a manner that is consistent with macroeconomic stabilization and saving for future generations.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EGreater exchange rate flexibility and a more efficient and transparent FX allocation mechanism are urgently needed. Lack of exchange rate flexibility has impeded PNG’s adjustment to sharply lower world commodity prices, weakened the external and fiscal positions, and reduced the growth contribution from net exports. The pass-through of more rapid exchange rate depreciation into inflation would need to be countered through monetary policy tightening but transmission channels are impeded by excessive banking system liquidity, implying the need for measures to absorb excess liquidity. The staff does not recommend Fund approval of the retention of the exchange restriction arising from FX prioritization and rationing of FX, of the tax clearance certificate requirement, and of the multiple currency practices (MCPs), because they are not temporary and in the absence of a timetable for their elimination.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EAn acceleration of structural reform is key for private sector development, in support of PNG’s inclusive growth strategy. The business environment, particularly for agriculture and SMEs, needs to be strengthened through providing better infrastructure, access to financing, and law and order.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003EWhile staff welcomes the recent progress, the more decisive action is needed to improve macroeconomic statistics. Noteworthy progress has been made to strengthen national accounts and government finance statistics. Priorities for further reform include a balance of payments, international investment position, and debt data.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-eEH_Uah3D6I\/WI2GnAempPI\/AAAAAAAAN5o\/lUpp6eR0zhoGXfLKIlcFHWh1_TKkFCJAgCLcB\/s1600\/IMF-PNG1.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Selected Economic and Financial Indicators 2012-2017\/ PNG\" border=\"0\" height=\"96\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-eEH_Uah3D6I\/WI2GnAempPI\/AAAAAAAAN5o\/lUpp6eR0zhoGXfLKIlcFHWh1_TKkFCJAgCLcB\/s640\/IMF-PNG1.JPG\" title=\"Selected Economic and Financial Indicators 2012-2017\/ PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q7Rfc3eqFYI\/WI2GnO-x9vI\/AAAAAAAAN5s\/hwtK_mfmKi0FjnVD07ciAwaIG534kI7TQCLcB\/s1600\/IMF-PNG2.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Selected Economic and Financial Indicators 2012-2017\/ PNG\" border=\"0\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-Q7Rfc3eqFYI\/WI2GnO-x9vI\/AAAAAAAAN5s\/hwtK_mfmKi0FjnVD07ciAwaIG534kI7TQCLcB\/s640\/IMF-PNG2.JPG\" title=\"Selected Economic and Financial Indicators 2012-2017\/ PNG\" width=\"616\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-jUDvAzk3zA8\/WI2GnPkusRI\/AAAAAAAAN5k\/NKx15sSfCogQcdvvSUCOat8ul3CWPvWKgCLcB\/s1600\/IMF-PNG3.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Selected Economic and Financial Indicators 2012-2017\/ PNG\" border=\"0\" height=\"94\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-jUDvAzk3zA8\/WI2GnPkusRI\/AAAAAAAAN5k\/NKx15sSfCogQcdvvSUCOat8ul3CWPvWKgCLcB\/s640\/IMF-PNG3.JPG\" title=\"Selected Economic and Financial Indicators 2012-2017\/ PNG\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctable border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-size: 12px; width: 672px;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr style=\"min-height: 15pt;\"\u003E\u003Ctd colspan=\"8\" style=\"background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: rgb(240, 240, 240); min-height: 15pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; white-space: nowrap; width: 7in;\" valign=\"bottom\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: nowrap;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"background-color: transparent; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EReference:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E[1] Under Article IV of the IMF's Articles of Agreement, the IMF holds bilateral discussions with members, usually every year. A staff team visits the country, collects economic and financial information, and discusses with officials the country's economic developments and policies. On return to headquarters, the staff prepares a report, which forms the basis for discussion by the Executive Board.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E[2] The Executive Board takes decisions under its lapse-of-time procedure when the Board agrees that a proposal can be considered without convening formal discussions.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003E\u003Cscript async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-c6-3y+3v+0+c6\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7609865815468089\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"3607324678\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E\n\u003Cscript\u003E\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/2876014845155436026"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/2876014845155436026"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/2017\/01\/PR-IMF-concludes-2016-Article-IV-Consultation-with-PNG-PR-2017-0016.html","title":"PR | IMF Executive Board Concludes 2016 Article IV Consultation with Papua New Guinea"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"IndraStra Global"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04065983396291846323"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-M0HD88VMMSA\/XMrUpcDhagI\/AAAAAAAAUJs\/a5ZbTU09eGMvNCplyJE9bDNBxc3o8kTeQCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Webp.net-resizeimage%2B%252814%2529.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-N-mfpohbp9Q\/WI2IXQxp9xI\/AAAAAAAAN54\/rFMNLvmoWEkH8MKiPqYH4fodfR4F19CMgCLcB\/s72-c\/Aerial_view_of_Port_Moresby_1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Washington, DC, USA"},"georss$point":{"$t":"38.9071923 -77.036870700000009"},"georss$box":{"$t":"38.9071923 -77.036870700000009 38.9071923 -77.036870700000009"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461303524738926686.post-2223750149053756911"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-25T15:32:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2017-06-28T00:41:23.459-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia Pacific"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"China"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Japan"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Kindle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Opinion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Polynesia"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"OPINION | Tonga \u0026 the Third Island Chain"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003E\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBy Rear Admiral Dr. S. Kulshrestha (Retd.)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EINDIAN NAVY\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ruzbmfV9JBM\/Vs9ka2Y_BGI\/AAAAAAAAIyg\/j5vyeLDope0\/s1600\/tongaca.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"OPINION | Tonga \u0026amp; the Third Island Chain\" border=\"0\" height=\"416\" src=\"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ruzbmfV9JBM\/Vs9ka2Y_BGI\/AAAAAAAAIyg\/j5vyeLDope0\/s640\/tongaca.JPG\" title=\"OPINION | Tonga \u0026amp; the Third Island Chain\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E“The ongoing disputes in the East China Sea and the South China Sea mean that Japan’s top foreign policy priority must be to expand the country’s strategic horizons. Japan is a mature maritime democracy and choice of close partners should reflect that fact. I envisage a strategy whereby Australia, India, Japan, and the US State of Hawaii form a diamond to safeguard the maritime commons starting from the Indian Ocean Region to the Western Pacific. I am prepared to invest the greatest possible extent, Japan’s capabilities in the security diamond”\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E- Shinzo Abe, 2013\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EInterestingly, John Foster Dulles propounded the Island Chain Concept, comprising of three island chains, in 1951 for strategic containment of USSR and China. The key component of the First Island Chain was Taiwan (it was thereafter christened as one of the Unsinkable Aircraft Carriers); it extended from northern Philippines \u0026amp; Borneo, up to Kuril islands. The second line of defense was from Mariana Island to Islands of Japan. The Third Chain’s key component was Hawaii; it began at Aleutians and ended in Oceania. Now that the breakdown of USSR has taken place, the Chinese believe that this concept would be used to contain China.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=zonz1bpiwdFI.k9LgcQ3QOSpU\" width=\"585\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EGeneral Liu Huaqing had articulated a three-tier program for modernizing the PLAN (commonly referred to as Chinese Navy),according to which the Chinese Navy is proceeding to fast pace its modernization efforts. The program essentially comprises of three time lines, namely:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EYear 2020- Acquire capability to exert sea control up to the First Island Chain i.e. bracketing the South China Sea and the East China Sea.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EYear 2020- The sea control capability would be extended to the Second Island Chain, which amounts to bracketing the Philippines Sea.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EYear 2050- The capabilities would extend to operating Carrier battle groups globally.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EThe phenomenal economic growth followed by upgrading of military capabilities of PLA and the subsequent claims on islands in the South China Sea, probably led Mr. Shizo Abe, the prime minister of Japan, to articulate the “Asian Security Diamond” in 2013. It called upon India, Australia, and Hawaii (US) to form a strategic coalition for safeguarding the maritime commons comprising the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific. The Japanese Prime minister has also approached France and United Kingdom to join this Asian Security Diamond keeping in view the significant strategic presence of these two countries in the IOR and the Western Pacific.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EThe Polynesian Link in the Third Island Chain\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EThe third Island Chain as espoused by Dulles; from the Aleutians to Oceania with Hawaii as a key component; has started to assume relevance with an assertive China militarizing disputed islands. New Zealand –Tonga – Hawaii link within this chain; could play a significant role at least as far as Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is concerned. Whereas, New Zealand and Hawaii may not need any benign assistance, Tonga, with its 177 islands spread over an area of ~700,000 sq km in southern Pacific Ocean, is a different story.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003ECurrently, in the maritime arena, Tonga is grappling with security of its extensive coastline as well as policing of its EEZ of 676,401 sq km. Its remote location, over 2,330 km from New Zealand and over 5000 km from Hawaii make it a fertile region for transnational crime. Tonga has insufficient physical and electronic monitoring resources to remain updated about real time situation in its vast area and is severely constrained as far as MDA is concerned. Tonga with its outlying islands is susceptible to gun running, narcotics, human trafficking and other criminal activities. In addition, unauthorized exploitation of its fisheries and marine wealth in its coastal waters as well as in its EEZ has direct impact on its national economy and security. As regards applicability of MDA to Tonga it would be prudent to take a cue from the definition and scope of MDA, as has been articulated by the US government vide their document National Security Presidential Directive 41, 2004:-\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EMaritime Domain Awareness is “the effective understanding of anything associated with the global maritime environment that could impact the security, safety, economy or environment of U.S. This is accomplished through the integration of intelligence, surveillance, observation, and navigation systems into one common operating picture (COP) that is accessible throughout the U.S. Government.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EUnlike traditional naval operations, it is apparent that the goal of MDA is far more than simply looking for potential maritime enemies poised to attack Tonga. The implications of “Anything associated” with the maritime environment that can affect the security, safety, economy, or environment go far beyond a classic maritime threat. As per the US interpretation, these include smuggling of people or dangerous cargoes, piracy, proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), identification and protection of critical maritime infrastructure, oil spills, weather, and environmental concerns among other events. What Tonga needs today is a robust MDA along with a rapid air \u0026amp; sea transportation capability.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-uZ87fUqx-J4\/Vs9hdXsss2I\/AAAAAAAAIyU\/w_MDnDSM4dw\/s1600\/tonga1.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Tonga Island - Google Earth \" border=\"0\" height=\"368\" src=\"https:\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-uZ87fUqx-J4\/Vs9hdXsss2I\/AAAAAAAAIyU\/w_MDnDSM4dw\/s640\/tonga1.JPG\" title=\"Tonga Island - Google Earth \" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EAn important factor that has to be considered while discussing the Third Island Chain is that Tonga is being aggressively wooed by China, even though there are only about 300 Chinese residents as per some estimates.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EIndia has been participating in bilateral and multilateral strategic dialogues in the region including those involving Japan, Australia, and the US and the Indian Navy has participated in various naval exercises. However, India has not joined any group, which directly aims at containment of China.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;times\u0026quot; , \u0026quot;times new roman\u0026quot; , serif;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;\"\u003EIndia maintains cordial relations with nations in the Pacific; however, Tonga and other smaller nations in the South Pacific Ocean aspire for more attention from India. India could assist Tonga, benignly, in setting up of its MDA infrastructure. This would not only enhance the potency of the Polynesian Island link in the Third Island Chain, but also strengthen Tonga’s maritime security.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN-GB\" style=\"font-size: 12.0pt;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAbout The Author:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThe author \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/in.linkedin.com\/in\/rear-admiral-dr-sanatan-kulshrestha-retd-86a00519\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERADM Dr. S. Kulshrestha (Retd.), INDIAN NAVY\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E holds expertise in quality assurance of naval armament and ammunition. He is an alumnus of the National Defence College and a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University. He superannuated from the post of Director General Naval Armament Inspection in 2011. He is unaffiliated and writes in defence journals on issues related to Armament technology and indigenisation.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003ECite This Article:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit; font-size: small;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003EKulshrestha, Sanatan.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E \"OPINION | Tonga and the Third Island Chain\" IndraStra Global 02, no. 02 (2016): 0070.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/2016\/02\/OPINION-Tonga-and-Third-Island-Chain-002-02-2016-0070.html\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/2016\/02\/OPINION-Tonga-and-Third-Island-Chain-002-02-2016-0070.html\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: normal;\"\u003E| ISSN 2381-3652 |\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tI0t_VZphsc\/Vs9XNdTkEzI\/AAAAAAAAIyE\/jtFPa26YuBM\/s1600\/AIDN0020220160070.PNG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"AIDN0020220160070\" border=\"0\" height=\"48\" src=\"https:\/\/1.bp.blogspot.com\/-tI0t_VZphsc\/Vs9XNdTkEzI\/AAAAAAAAIyE\/jtFPa26YuBM\/s640\/AIDN0020220160070.PNG\" title=\"AIDN0020220160070\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cscript async=\"\" src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E \u003C!-- IG_Main_Custom_Leaderboad_1 --\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7609865815468089\" data-ad-slot=\"2179034657\" style=\"display: inline-block; height: 90px; width: 585px;\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E\u003Cscript\u003E(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"blogger-post-footer\"\u003E\u003Cscript async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\n     style=\"display:block\"\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-c6-3y+3v+0+c6\"\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7609865815468089\"\n     data-ad-slot=\"3607324678\"\u003E\u003C\/ins\u003E\n\u003Cscript\u003E\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n\u003C\/script\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/2223750149053756911"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/1461303524738926686\/posts\/default\/2223750149053756911"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/2016\/02\/OPINION-Tonga-and-Third-Island-Chain-002-02-2016-0070.html","title":"OPINION | Tonga \u0026 the Third Island Chain"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"IndraStra Global"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/04065983396291846323"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/3.bp.blogspot.com\/-M0HD88VMMSA\/XMrUpcDhagI\/AAAAAAAAUJs\/a5ZbTU09eGMvNCplyJE9bDNBxc3o8kTeQCK4BGAYYCw\/s113\/Webp.net-resizeimage%2B%252814%2529.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-ruzbmfV9JBM\/Vs9ka2Y_BGI\/AAAAAAAAIyg\/j5vyeLDope0\/s72-c\/tongaca.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"New Delhi, Delhi 110001, India"},"georss$point":{"$t":"28.6139391 77.209021200000052"},"georss$box":{"$t":"28.1680166 76.563574200000048 29.059861599999998 77.854468200000056"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1461303524738926686.post-4998577124612990161"},"published":{"$t":"2016-02-10T12:57:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2016-03-07T18:28:06.518-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Asia Pacific"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Featured"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"India"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Kindle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Polynesia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"South Asia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Tonga"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"FEATURED | The Strategic Importance of Tonga for India "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv dir=\"ltr\" style=\"text-align: left;\" trbidi=\"on\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EBy Rear Admiral S. Kulshrestha (Retd.)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EINDIAN NAVY\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-T9SyXevaBX8\/Vrt0b3qK9lI\/AAAAAAAAIh8\/NupyMmDmv0E\/s1600\/tongaindia.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"FEATURED | The Strategic Importance of Tonga for India\" border=\"0\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-T9SyXevaBX8\/Vrt0b3qK9lI\/AAAAAAAAIh8\/NupyMmDmv0E\/s640\/tongaindia.jpg\" title=\"FEATURED | The Strategic Importance of Tonga for India\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ETonga is an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, lying about 5,060 km Southeast of Hawaii. It comprises of 177 islands in the central Pacific Ocean covering ~360,700 sq km of ocean with a land area of 699 sq km. The main island groups are Tongatupu, Haíapai, and Vavaíua. It is to the credit of the Kingdom of Tonga that, it is the only monarchy in South Pacific that has never been colonized. The capital of Tonga is Nuku’alofa, which lies on the Tongatupu island chain.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-bRlK0uGFZxc\/Vrt5j5QY-PI\/AAAAAAAAIiM\/mCTCpEo3kcQ\/s1600\/australasiaL.png.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Map Attribute: Australasia (including Polynesian Islands)\" border=\"0\" height=\"406\" src=\"https:\/\/4.bp.blogspot.com\/-bRlK0uGFZxc\/Vrt5j5QY-PI\/AAAAAAAAIiM\/mCTCpEo3kcQ\/s640\/australasiaL.png.jpg\" title=\"Map Attribute: Australasia (including Polynesian Islands)\" width=\"640\" \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EMap Attribute: Australasia (including Polynesian Islands)\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EChina and Tonga\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIt is understood that pro democracy supporters started the riots in the central business district in Nuku’alofa on 16 November 2006. Since a large number of shops destroyed were owned by Chinese origin Tongans, China provided a concessional loan of $118 mn to Tonga. This was followed by military supplies worth Euro 340,000 in 2008. \u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ETwo Chinese warships namely a missile frigate \"Mianyang\" and a training ship “Zhenghe” visited Nukualofa in September 2010. A new Chinese- Tongan bank was also set up in 2013. China also gifted a $15 mn commercial Xian MA60 aircraft to Tonga.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThis was followed by the visit of a Chinese Hospital ship “Peace Ark” on a “Harmonious Mission 2014” in Aug 2014. This ship provided consultations, medicines and even carried out complex surgeries for Tongans. As per, commanding officer of the \"Harmonious Mission - 2014\" Rear Admiral Shen Hao, \"The purpose of this tour to Tonga, with the mission of providing medical services, is to carry forward the international humanitarian spirit, strengthen exchanges between the two militaries, and promote the view of harmony\". \u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EOn the other hand, the Chinese residents have been at the receiving end of the racial attacks. It is said that out of the 3000 to 4000 of them, only about 300 remain, the rest having fled Tonga.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ENevertheless, China continues to make overtures to Tonga.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EIndia and Tonga\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ETonga and India have very cordial relationship. \u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIn July 2006, Indian naval ship – INS ‘Tabar’ paid a goodwill visit to Tonga. Late King George Tuopou V visited India in September 2009 on a private visit. Tonga has been provided 15 training slots for 2015-16 under ITEC programme. A small number of Tongan Defence Service personnel have been availing defence training in various training institutions in India. As per the MEA briefing notes, in 2007, India has given a grant-aid of US$ 100,000\/- each for construction of access road from Wharf to Hunga village and up-gradation of jetty in Hunga. India has also provided grant-aid of US$ 3,00,000 for Tsunami Alert System in July 2014 and approved grant-aid of US$ 1,15,000 for Project Proposal “Upgrade to the Office of the Public Service Commission ICT Infrastructure” in October 2014.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ETonga delegation was led by the Prime Minister Lord Tu’ivakano, when Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi hosted the India-Pacific Island Countries Forum Summit in Suva (Fiji) during the visit on 19 November 2014 with the participation of 14 Pacific countries. Some of the announcements made during the summit with respect to Pacific countries (including Tonga) included;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E-Setting up of a Special Adaptation Fund of $ 1 million, \u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E- Development of Pan Pacific Islands Project for tele-medicine and tele-education, \u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E-Indian Visa on arrival for Pacific Island Countries .Deputation of ITEC experts to Pacific Island countries, including in the areas of agriculture, health care, and IT,\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E-Cooperation in the use of Space technology applications for improving the quality of life of people and communications,\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E-Explore possibilities of sharing data for monitoring climate change, disaster risk reduction, and management and resource management, \u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003E-Undertake joint research in traditional medicine; developing health-care facilities for the benefit of people in the region.\u0026nbsp; \u003C\/i\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ENeedless to say, that International Day of Yoga was celebrated in Tonga on 21 June 2015.\u0026nbsp; \u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEEZ Resources \u003C\/b\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ETonga has an EEZ of 676,401 sq Km.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThe seabed mineral potential of Tonga is attracting a large number of countries who intend to carry out exploration to assess the mining potential of the ‘sea floor massive sulphide’ deposits, which could yield significant amount of metals like gold, silver, copper and zinc.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ETonga is the first country in the world to promulgate Seabed Minerals Act in 2014 to manage seabed mineral activities in its territorial waters as well as its EEZ. The Act emphasizes the protection and preservation of the marine environment as well as the need to balance economic development for the people of Tonga against conservation of the biodiversity of the oceans. India can gain from this in framing its own deep sea mining regulations.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWay Ahead\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIt appears that Tongans believe India should look at South Pacific Ocean as a strategic interlink to the Indian Ocean and not as a peripheral appendage. Tongans apparently resent being seen via Fiji and Australia in the strategic scheme of power projection. They would prefer to be dealt with as an independent strategic partner along with other smaller nations in the South Pacific Ocean.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIndia has put in place a comprehensive framework for future cooperation in the South Pacific, the need now is to accelerate the collaboration in the areas of communications, climate change monitoring, fisheries, ocean sciences and technology.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EIt has been nearly 35 years since a Indian Prime Minister visited Tonga probably it is time now to take the relationship with Tonga to a higher echelon and also peg smaller South Pacific Nations as strategic allies.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EAbout The Author:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EThe author \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/in.linkedin.com\/in\/rear-admiral-dr-sanatan-kulshrestha-retd-86a00519\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERADM Dr. S. Kulshrestha (Retd.), INDIAN NAVY\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/b\u003E holds expertise in quality assurance of naval armament and ammunition. He is an alumnus of the National Defence College and a PhD from Jawaharlal Nehru University. He superannuated from the post of Director General Naval Armament Inspection in 2011. He is unaffiliated and writes in defence journals on issues related to Armament technology and indigenisation.\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ECite This Article:\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Ci\u003EKulshrestha, Sanatan.\u003C\/i\u003E \"FEATURED | The Strategic Importance of Tonga for India\" IndraStra Global 02, no. 02 (2016): 0031.\u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/2016\/02\/FEATURED-Strategic-Importance-of-Tonga-for-India-002-02-2016-0031.html\"\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.indrastra.com\/2016\/02\/FEATURED-Strategic-Importance-of-Tonga-for-India-002-02-2016-0031.html\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E| ISSN 2381-3652 | \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.6084\/m9.figshare.2074561\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ehttps:\/\/dx.doi.org\/10.6084\/m9.figshare.2074561\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Co:p\u003E\u003C\/o:p\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003E\u003Cspan lang=\"EN\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; 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