The FAST Samoan Government has about turned on the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative for the Asau Port development, in Utuloa, Asau, Savaii Island, Samoa.

My ancestral Village of Asau in the West of Savaii Island was earmarked for the Belt and Road Initiative back in 2018. In fact, it was scheduled to be built on my family's land which the Samoan Government had acquired for the Wharf near a century ago now. We are still the ancestral landowners. Needless to say, I had personally approved the development of my ancestral lands. However, I live in Australia and I can only give verbal approval from Brisbane Australia to my family in Utuloa, Asau Village.

HRPP PM Tuilaepa had approved for the Chinese development but when his government lost the recent controversial Govenrment under the FAST Government, the Samoan Asau port was cancelled. On October 24th 2024, the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting CHOGM 2024 will be hosted by Samoa.

The CHOGM are in close link with AUKUS and from a military standpoint the Asau Port may facilitate the Replenishment for the Chinese PLAN Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) for the Chinese Third Island Chain Chinese Blue Water replenishment for the PLAN. Nearby to American Samoa, the PLAN in Asau Port would be considered highly threatening. As a Samoan. I welcome the Chinese as a Friendly Nation in terms of the BRI and to assist in the Samoan economic development. A largeese from a Chinese Port will benefit my family under a long term lease. It would benefit in a mutually agreement between my family, the Samoan Government and the Chinese Govenrment in the not too distant future.

The HRPP may return to power and with their return, the Chinese Govenrment will also be viewed favouarably by the Samoan Goverrnment. In the meantime, the Chinese Blue Water Naval power projection will ensure that the Chinese BRI will be assured with the BRICS Plus members in Southern Hemisphere including Central and South America in the next century. It would be short sightedness if Samoans are to shun the Chinese Government. My ancestral Village of Asau in the West of Savaii Island was earmarked for Belt and Road Initiative back in 2018. In fact, it was scheuled to be built on my family's land which the Samoan Government had acquired for the Wharf near a century ago now. We are still the ancestral landowners. Needless to say, I had personally approved the development of my ancestral lands. However, I live in Australia and I can only give verbal approval from Brisbane Australia to my family in Utuloa, Asau Village. HRPP PM Tuilaepa had approved for the Chinese development but when his government lost the recent controversial Govenrment under the FAST Government, the Samoan Asau port was cancelled.

On October 24th 2024, the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting CHOGM 2024 will be hosted by Samoa. The CHOGM are in close link with AUKUS and from a military standpoint the Asau Port may facilitate the Replenishment for the Chinese PLAN Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) for the Chinese Third Island Chain Chinese Blue Water replenishment for the PLAN. Nearby to American Samoa, the PLAN in Asau Port would be considered highly threatening. As a Samoan. I welcome the Chinese as a Friendly Nation in terms of the BRI and to assist in the Samoan economic development. A largeese from a Chinese Port will benefit my family under a long term lease. It would benefit in a mutuallyMy ancestral Village of Asau in the West of Savaii Island was earmarked for Belt and Road Initiative back in 2018. In fact, it was scheuled to be built on my family's land which the Samoan Government had acquired for the Wharf near a century ago now. We are still the ancestral landowners.

Needless to say, I had personally approved the development of my ancestral lands. However, I live in Australia and I can only give verbal approval from Brisbane Australia to my family in Utuloa, Asau Village. HRPP PM Tuilaepa had approved for the Chinese development but when his government lost the recent controversial Govenrment under the FAST Government, the Samoan Asau port was cancelled. On October 24th 2024, the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting CHOGM 2024 will be hosted by Samoa. The CHOGM are in close link with AUKUS and from a military standpoint the Asau Port may facilitate the Replenishment for the Chinese PLAN Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) for the Chinese Third Island Chain Chinese Blue Water replenishment for the PLAN. Nearby to American Samoa, the PLAN in Asau Port would be considered highly threatening. As a Samoan. I welcome the Chinese as a Friendly Nation in terms of the BRI and to assist in the Samoan economic development. A largesse from a Chinese Port will benefit my family under a long term lease. It would benefit in a mutually agreeable relationship for both Samoa and China.

Tim Tufuga

Source:

1. Barrett, J, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1UX02J/

2. CNMega, Youtube.com, https://youtu.be/6pVx0-GLvIM?si=aqHtbBqiUGh7NWBX 

3. Asau Port, Samoa, https://www.spasamoa.ws/apia-port-facilities/asau-wharf 

4. Tufuga, Tim, Academia.edu, https://www.academia.edu/38786460/Asau_Port_a_Chinese_Pearl_in_the_Pacific