Samoa Rejects China Pacific Debt Forgiveness Call
Sumaira FH Published August 20, 2018 | 12:41 PM
Samoa's prime minister has rejected a call for Pacific island nations to ask China to write-off debts granted under Beijing's foreign aid programme in the region.
Wellington, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th Aug, 2018 ) :Samoa's prime minister has rejected a call for Pacific island nations to ask China to write-off debts granted under Beijing's foreign aid programme in the region.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said asking for aid loans to be forgiven painted an "unfaithful picture" of the recipient nation.
Malielegaoi likened it to someone requesting assistance and receiving milk, then later coming back and asking for the entire cow.
"The bigger countries (will) become reluctant to give loans with minor interests because this is what will happen," he told the Samoa Observer in remarks published Monday.
"A loan is granted with minor interest yet in five years time a request is put in to write it off.
That is embarrassing." He was responding to a suggestion from his Tongan counterpart Akalisi Pohiva that Pacific island nations band together and ask Beijing to collectively forgive their debt.
Chinese aid in the Pacific has ballooned in recent years with much of the funds coming in the form of loans from Beijing's state-run Exim Bank.
Pohiva raised concerns that small developing nations would struggle to repay the debt and could face asset seizure by Beijing.
He initially suggested they address the issue at next month's Pacific Islands Forum in Nauru but later backtracked, issuing a statement praising the help China has given to his country.
Recent Stories
Pak, NZ T20I series online ticket booking from tomorrow
Pak-Türkiye strategize to boost bilateral trade to $5 billion
Chief Representative of CFFEX in Pakistan and PSX Director meet Finance Minister
SC conditionally allows army courts to announce reserved verdicts
12 suspects criminals arrests in search operation:SSP Larkana
Mayor Karachi chairs meeting of SSWMB
PMDC’s int’l recognition ‘historic milestone’ for Pakistan’s health in ..
Secretary HUD&PHE Asad Ullah Khan visits RDA
NHA mobilizes efforts to clear landslide in Zhob-Dhanasar section of N-50
Interior Minister, CM KP vow to eliminate terrorism
China to surpass 1 billion 5G connections this year: GSMA
Students gather at GCU to express solidarity with Palestinians, Kashmiris
More Stories From World
-
'Operation Beethoven': Dutch 2.5bn-euro charm offensive to keep ASML
1 hour ago -
Bulgaria thrown into fresh political turmoil as snap elections loom
1 hour ago -
China-India hold meeting to discuss border affairs in Beijing
1 hour ago -
French bill seeks to ban hair discrimination affecting black women
2 hours ago -
China willing to work with Pakistan to enhance capability of tackling security challenges: Col Wu Qi ..
1 hour ago -
Pakistan to bring perpetrator of Dasu terrorist attack to justice soon: Lin Jian
3 hours ago
-
Financial crisis at UK's biggest water supplier worsens
3 hours ago -
French parliament backs bill against hair discrimination affecting black women
3 hours ago -
Poland raids Russian spy network: security services
3 hours ago -
UK greenhouse gas emissions fell 5.4% in 2023: data
3 hours ago -
Haiti situation 'cataclysmic': UN
4 hours ago -
Profits fall for China's top chipmaker as sanctions bite
4 hours ago