China and US clash over alleged trafficking of Tongan women

A diplomatic dispute has emerged between the United States and China regarding allegations that Tongan women are being trafficked to China through fraudulent marriage arrangements. The disagreement follows a visit to Tonga by Dr. Sandra Morgan, executive director of the Global Center for Women and Justice.

During a media engagement hosted by the US Embassy in Nuku’alofa, Dr. Morgan characterized the reported circumstances as having ‘classic signs’ of human trafficking, including grooming, recruiting, and luring women with promises of marriage and bride prices that differ from the reality encountered upon arrival in China. One Tongan woman, identified by the pseudonym Lisa, alleged that after traveling to China under the promise of a better life, she felt as though she had been ‘bought and sold’ and that her passport was confiscated.

The Chinese Embassy in Tonga has issued a statement rejecting these claims, asserting that human trafficking is a serious crime that China actively works to combat. The embassy challenged the premature conclusions regarding the recent reports.