Nauru demands China apology over ‘crazy’ envoy

Nauru’s President Baron Waqa attends a press conference after the Small Island States meeting in Aiwo on September 3, 2018, ahead of the start of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Official talks at the 18-nation Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) starting on September 3 will center on the threat climate change poses to island states and China’s rising influence in the region. / AFP PHOTO / Mike LEYRAL

Yaren, Nauru — Nauru’s president has demanded that China apologize for a top diplomat’s “crazy” behavior at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and lashed out at Beijing’s “arrogant” presence in the region.

“They’re not our friends. They just need us for their own purposes,” President Baron Waqa told reporters.

“Sorry, but I have to be strong on this because no one is to come and dictate things to us,” he added.

This year’s annual Pacific summit, which wraps up in Nauru on Thursday, has been one of the most contentious in the event’s 49-year history.

The usual discussions about climate change have been overshadowed by the host’s row with China and its treatment of asylum-seekers held on the island under a deal with Australia.

The diplomatic spat pits Nauru — with a population of 11,000 and an area of just 21 square kilometres (eight square miles) — against the Asian superpower.

It erupted on Tuesday when the head of China’s delegation Du Qiwen attempted to address a meeting but Waqa refused to let him speak until island leaders had finished.

The Chinese delegation then stormed out, with Du reportedly striding around the room to emphasise his displeasure before leaving.

“Would he behave like that in front of his own president? I doubt it,” Waqa said at a press conference late Wednesday.

“He disrespected the Pacific, the forum island leaders and other ministers who have come to join us in our territory. Are you kidding? Look at him, he’s a nobody.”

“He’s not even a minister and he’s demanding to be recognized and to speak before the prime minister of Tuvalu. Is he crazy?,” he also said.

‘Bad farce’

Waqa, whose country backs Taiwan over arch-rival China in the battle for diplomatic recognition, had already angered Beijing before the summit began in a row over visas.

The exchange with Du highlighted sensitivities over Beijing’s rising influence in the Pacific, where China provided an estimated US$1.78 billion in aid to island nations between 2006-2016.

“We’re seeing a lot of big countries coming in and sometimes buying their way through the Pacific, some are extremely aggressive, even to the point that they tread all over us,” Waqa said.

“From this forum, all leaders (now) know how arrogant some of these people are,” he noted.

He said such behavior merited an apology from Beijing.

“We won’t just seek an apology, we’ll even take it up to the UN,” he said. “Not only that, I will mention it at the UN and every international meeting.”

China has shown no sign of backing down, with a foreign ministry spokeswoman saying Wednesday that Nauru violated forum regulations “and staged a bad farce”.

China does not belong to the PIF but is one of 18 countries that attends the leaders’ summit as a “dialogue partner” for discussions with member nations.

Beijing and Taipei have vied for diplomatic influence in the Pacific for decades, with both sides offering aid and support to small island states in return for recognition.

Taiwan paid for much of the infrastructure used at the Nauru PIF and there could be similar tensions at next year’s event in Tuvalu, which also recognizes Taipei.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, even though the island views itself as a sovereign nation and is a self-ruling democracy.

Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand have boosted their foreign aid programs in the Pacific to counter Chinese influence in a region they regard as their backyard.  /kga