UPDATE: Two more women reportedly bound for China as trafficking concerns deepen
Embassy says no evidence of human trafficking so far, while accused woman denies allegations
Two young Tongan women from the same village in Tongatapu are reportedly preparing to leave for China on Monday under arrangements similar to those at the centre of a growing controversy.
However, in a Facebook post published today, one of the women reportedly due to travel on Monday said she had cancelled her ticket. No reason was given for the cancellation.
The development comes as the Chinese Embassy issued its first public statement on the matter and fresh allegations continue to surface online.
A social media user posted images of airline tickets allegedly belonging to one of the women. If accurate, the departure would occur while Tonga Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have yet to issue any public statement, despite being approached by Tonga Independent News for comment.
The Chinese Embassy said it is working with the Embassy of Tonga in China to investigate the matter and that Chinese police are providing assistance to the women already in China.
“Based on information available so far, the issue appears to be transnational marriage disputes,” the Embassy said in a statement issued today.
The Embassy added that no evidence has yet emerged verifying claims of human trafficking and said that if any wrongdoing or non-compliance is found on the Chinese side, the women’s rights and interests would be protected under Chinese law.
The controversy began after Aloi Katoa of Ha’asini made allegations in a Facebook livestream that her niece, Huni, and two other young women had travelled to China under marriage arrangements with Chinese nationals and later found themselves in distressing circumstances.
The woman identified in those allegations, Ma’ata Aso, has denied any wrongdoing.
In social media posts, Ms Aso claimed Huni was fully aware she was travelling to China to marry a Chinese national and had done so willingly.
Ms Aso further claimed Huni’s complaint was not that she had been forced into marriage, but that she was unhappy with her husband and wanted to leave him.
Ms Aso did not address allegations concerning the two other young women who are reportedly still in China.
Beyond the original claims, additional allegations have since emerged.
One woman has alleged that her uncle’s granddaughter previously worked at a Chinese-owned store in Tatakamotonga before being taken to China to marry a Chinese national in exchange for money and a vehicle.
According to the allegation, a Chinese woman took her to China and later returned to Tonga without her.
The young woman later approached Chinese authorities after the people she was staying with allegedly withheld her passport.
Her parents eventually paid for her airfare home.
At this stage, all allegations remain unverified.
Tonga Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have not issued public statements. It is not known when they were first approached or whether responses are pending. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, which has responsibilities relating to migration and vulnerable persons, has also not commented.
The central question now facing authorities is whether these cases involve legitimate cross-border marriage arrangements, exploitation of vulnerable women, or a more organised recruitment network.
With more allegations surfacing and further departures reportedly imminent, pressure is mounting on Tongan authorities to determine whether criminal conduct may be involved.
