Nauru's ugly forum farce against trend of times

The visa row between Nauru and diplomats from the Chinese mainland, while an "ugly farce", is little more than a storm in a teacup. However, it does reveal something significant that is of concern.

It was for political reasons that Nauru refused to stamp entry visas in Chinese diplomatic passports, saying it would only process their personal passports. This is because it has "diplomatic ties" with Taiwan, and it is for that reason the island country's president spoke ill of the Chinese delegation's bid to speak at the Pacific Islands Forum.

The threat to boycott the forum by other Pacific island countries points to the inappropriateness of how Nauru treated the delegation from the Chinese mainland, which attended as an invited dialogue partner.