An island country of 12,000 stands up to China, demands apology for envoy's 'bullying'

Following protocol, Nauru's President Baron Waqa refused to let China's envoy speak before PM of Tuvalu at the Pacific Islands Forum. He later described him as "very insolent" and a "bully".

Photo courtesy Twitter/@Republic_Nauru

Wellington/Sydney: The tiny Micronesian state of Nauru is demanding a formal apology after a dispute with China's representative at this week's Pacific Islands Forum brought to the surface tensions with Beijing over its support for Taiwan.

Nauru, an island country of roughly 12,000 inhabitants, hosted leaders of 18 Pacific nations, plus delegations from non-member countries including the United States and China, for the forum.

The spat occurred when Nauru's President Baron Waqa refused to give way when the head of the Chinese delegation, diplomat Du Qiwen, demanded to be allowed to address the forum before the Prime Minister of Tuvalu on Tuesday. 

Waqa described China's envoy as "very insolent" and a "bully" for speaking out of turn.

Nauru and Tuvalu are two of six Pacific countries to have diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which is a major source of tension with China, which regards Taiwan as a wayward province, to be taken back by force if necessary.

During a media conference that followed the leaders' meeting at the forum late on Wednesday, Nauru's president was asked whether he would seek a formal apology from China over its envoy's behaviour.

"We will go further than that, I tell you we won't just seek an apology, we will actually get the forum to do it...as well as our own and we will even take it up to the UN," Waqa said.

"Never mind they are big, they are our partners, they should not disrespect us."

H.E. President Baron Waqa to demand formal apology from China after official walks out of #NauruPIF2018 meeting. #BluePacifichttps://t.co/WIX2y3Os3H — Republic of Nauru (@Republic_Nauru) September 6, 2018

China's Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but on Wednesday had said that Nauru had violated international norms and the rules of forum.

Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times said in an editorial that the dispute was connected to Nauru's recognition of Taiwan.

"Taiwan should not believe there is still an opportunity for its "diplomacy" just because of Nauru's actions. It's absurd that Taiwan's future can be decided by a remote Pacific island country," the paper said on Thursday.

Taiwan's Foreign Ministry also did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Waqa said that he had not allowed China to speak as protocol dictated that he allow prime ministers and ministers to speak before diplomats.

"I have to be strong here because no one is to come and dictate things for us," Waqa said. "It's about the way they treated us, they're not our friends. They just use us for their own purpose, for their own will."

The forum is set to end on Thursday.

China has become one of the dominant economic players in the Pacific, spending billions of dollars in trade, investment, aid and tourism in a region that staunch US ally Australia has long regarded as its "back yard".

Chinese lending to the region has surged from nearly zero to $1.3 billion over the last decade, stoking concern that tiny nations could end up overburdened and in debt.

Tuvalu is set to host the Pacific Island Forum in 2019 and Waqa said some states had suggested changing the rules around which forum events countries with 'dialogue partner' status, including China, would be allowed to speak. 

Meg Taylor, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, said at the media conference that the rule change and protocols for meetings would be considered in the first quarter of 2019.