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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SUVA 000466 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/20/2017 
TAGS: MARR PREL PGOV TN
SUBJECT: CDR PACOM 9/17-18 VISIT TO TONGA: MILITARY BONDS; 
NOTES ON POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS 
 
REF: A. SUVA 435 
 
     ¶B. SUVA 452 
     ¶C. SUVA 442 
 
SUVA 00000466  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Amb. Dinger.  Sec. 1.4 (B,D). 
 
Summary 
------- 
¶1. (C) PACOM Commander Admiral Keating's visit to Tonga 
reinforced strong mil/mil bonds and accented long-standing 
close bilateral relations.  The Admiral thanked Tonga leaders 
for a second deployment of Tonga Defense Service (TDS) troops 
to Iraq.  TDS Commander BG Uta'atu said Foreign/Defense 
Minister Tu'a has given assurance the Tonga Government's 
recent complaint about U.S. visa policy will not affect a 
follow-on Iraq deployment early next year.  Uta'atu described 
plans to expand the TDS dramatically.  During a cordial 
lunch, King George V expressed his pleasure that mil/mil 
relations are strong.  In discussing domestic politics, he 
made clear his personal interest in rapid reform to more 
democratic governance and his frustration that the government 
is inclined to move more slowly.  All interlocutors suggested 
that China's developing relationship with Tonga should not be 
of concern.  End summary. 
 
Commander PACOM visit a rousing success 
--------------------------------------- 
¶2. (C) During an introductory visit to Nuku'alofa, Tonga, on 
Sept. 17-18, Admiral Keating met with King George V, Acting 
Prime Minister Tuita, Foreign/Defense Minister Tu'a, and 
Commander, Tonga Defense Service (TDS) Brig.Gen. Uta'atu. 
The TDS also hosted the Admiral for a "beating the retreat" 
ceremony at the Tonga naval base. 
 
Accent on close mil/mil ties; thanks for Iraq effort 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
¶3. (C) Adm. Keating emphasized throughout his visit the USG's 
appreciation for Tonga's friendship over many years and its 
past and current participation in the Coalition of the 
Willing in Iraq.  (The TDS first deployed to Iraq in 2004.  A 
second group of 55 TDS troops entered Iraq for a six-month 
deployment on Sept. 15, with another contingent to follow in 
February.)  Interlocutors all confirmed Tonga's commitment to 
be a good international citizen as evidenced in the Iraq 
deployments.  In remarks at the "beating the retreat," BG 
Uta'atu said mil/mil relations as "excellent."  Minister Tu'a 
in his meeting with the Admiral described close military ties 
as "the buckle on the belt" of Tonga-U.S. relations. 
 
Visas barely discussed 
---------------------- 
¶4. (C) Per refs A and B, Tonga recently gave notice by 
diplomatic note and a visit to Embassy Suva that, unless the 
USG can make progress to bring visa services on the ground, 
Tonga "will not be disposed" to assist the U.S. "in military 
or other fields."  The oral message was even more clear: no 
visa services in Tonga; no follow-on deployment to Iraq. 
During Admiral Keating's visit the subject only arose once, 
during the call on BG Uta'atu, when he acknowledged the 
diplomatic message, apologized for it, and said he had raised 
the subject with Minister Tu'a, seeking clarification. 
Uta'atu said Tu'a assured him that, despite the rhetoric, the 
follow-on deployment will go ahead as planned.  (Comment: 
While Tu'a's assurance is comforting as regards the follow-on 
deployment to Iraq, the threat to disrupt future U.S-Tonga 
relations, including mil/mil relations, remains a concern.) 
 
TDS expansion plans: PKO and domestic contingencies 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶5. (C) Minister Tu'a and BG Uta'atu noted the Tonga 
Government's plans to expand the TDS significantly. 
Government has given "in principle" approval for up to 1500 
troops (1.5% of Tonga's population), though current plans are 
somewhat more modest: to build from the current 450 to 750. 
Uta'atu said the aim is to have around 250 troops available 
for PKO, while retaining 500 at home for training and any 
domestic contingencies.  Tu'a and Uta'atu both said they are 
uncomfortable with the TDS playing a domestic law-enforcement 
role; however, if exigencies demand, as happened last 
November when rioters trashed and burned much of central 
Nuku'alofa, the TDS needs to be ready and able.  Admiral 
Keating acknowledged both points -- that governments should 
strive to direct military forces toward combat and PKO roles, 
but sometimes, as with Hurricane Katrina in the U.S., a 
 
SUVA 00000466  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
military presence can stabilize a difficult situation. 
 
The King's rapid reform agenda, and complications 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
¶6. (C) King George V roamed across a wide range of issues 
during a lunch with the Admiral.  The King confirmed his 
personal interest in continuation of a strong military 
relationship.  He also discussed his views on Tonga's 
political reform efforts (see ref C).  He said he is prepared 
to "act on advice" of a PM selected by an elected Parliament, 
and he would accept reformed elections in 2008, rather than 
2010 as the government is pushing.  He clearly is anxious for 
significant reforms to proceed rapidly and is frustrated that 
his current government is not moving ahead quickly.  He 
specifically complained about the Attorney General, who 
insists on delaying the "on advice" policy until it can be 
formally enacted into law.  The King would rather immediately 
implement that by convention.  In fact, if Parliament fails 
to move quickly to enact major reforms, the King said he is 
prepared to instruct Parliament to select the next PM and the 
next Cabinet.  When we noted that some in the current 
government have suggested there is danger from the right in 
moving too quickly, the King responded: "The danger from 
moving too slowly is much greater than the danger from moving 
too fast." 
 
A benign view of the PRC 
------------------------ 
¶7. (C) In all meetings, the Admiral inquired about Tonga's 
relationships with the PRC.  Interlocutors acknowledged there 
have been tensions between some Tongans and Chinese at the 
local level, due in part to Chinese having quickly come to 
dominate retail trade to the disadvantage of Tongan 
businesses.  At the governmental level, though, leaders all 
gave the impression they have no concerns about Chinese 
influence.  They see it as benign, and they are thankful for 
aid, like a US$55 million package intended to help Nuku'alofa 
recover from the riot.  Minister Tu'a contrasted the Chinese 
with the Russians, recalling advice from the late King Tupou 
IV to beware of the Russians who, when they arrive, "tend to 
become permanent." 
 
Comment 
------- 
¶8. (C) Admiral Keating's visit to Nuku'alofa very usefully 
reconfirmed the strength of U.S.-Tonga mil/mil ties and 
accented USG thankfulness for the TDS deployments to Iraq. 
Conversations about Tonga politics illustrated that the 
situation remains complex.  The King and the monarchy's 
appointees to the current government have accepted that 
significant reform is inevitable, a huge step for Tonga.  But 
politicians are near stalemate on the pace and details of 
those reforms at a time when the monarch wants rapid progress 
but also wants to illustrate that he actually is retreating 
from active manipulation of power to an "on advice" mode.  In 
our judgment, the King is absolutely right to worry that 
reform may proceed too slowly.  Nobody wants a repeat of last 
November's riot, caused at least in part by government 
politicians slowing the pace.  Severe violence in the streets 
would likely be firmly suppressed by King and TDS, with 
unpredictable long-term political consequences. 
 
¶9. (U) Admiral Keating has cleared this message. 
DINGER