Kiribati ex-leader calls on Pacific to confront assertive China

Anote Tong says recent PIF controversy holds lessons for how to deal with Beijing.

  Former Kiribati President Anote Tong speaks with Nikkei Asia on Sept. 3 in Sydney during the Sydney Dialogue hosted by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

SYDNEY -- Pacific island nations must have "courage and dignity" and stand up to China's attempts to influence affairs in the region, former Kiribati President Anote Tong told Nikkei Asia in an interview on Tuesday.

Tong, who served three terms as leader of the island country from 2003 to 2016, was referring to the Pacific Islands Forum's removal of a clause reaffirming Taiwan's status as a PIF development partner from the joint communique following the annual meeting of the group's leaders in late August.