“ "China speaks for Tonga and other developing countries with a view to safeguarding our common interests".
China had accomplished two things with that statement. China could have used a clearer vocabulary to avoid confusion but chose not to.
Tonga or China could speak for each other base on their common interests. China will express Tonga’s interest when they have common understanding and or beliefs. That is the key. This is reciprocity. There is nothing outrageous about that statement. It does not mean China will vote in the UN for Tonga or vice versa.
Second, China is also reminding Tonga to get in line and vote along side China in the UN. Simple as that. No more, no less.
Case in point. "Pivot to the Pacific" is an integral part of China BRI initiative. This is China application of Mahan's theory in the Pacific for its' world-wide dominance strategy and at the same time buying Tonga votes at the UN. This is the same corruption such as politicians buying votes. ”