Antone Tong
Kiribati- Biography of Anote Tong
- Background and Education
- Diplomatic Relations with China
- Consequences and Opposition
- Air Kiribati Controversy
Biography of Anote Tong
Anote Tong, the 4th President of the Republic of Kiribati, was elected in July 2003, winning 47.4% of the votes. He surpassed his main competitor, Harry Tong, a member of the "Maneaba te Mauri" party, who received 43.5% of the votes, as well as Banuera Berina, a private lawyer from South Tarawa, who received 9.1% of the votes.
Background and Education
Anote Tong is the son of a Chinese migrant who settled in the Gilbert Islands after World War II. He received his education at the London School of Economics.
Diplomatic Relations with China
On November 7, 2003, Anote Tong established diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) on the island of Taiwan. This complicated relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC). As a result, China closed its satellite tracking station, halted the construction of a major stadium in South Tarawa, and withdrew six doctors from Kiribati National Hospital. The PRC does not recognize Taiwan as a separate state and considers it a part of its territory. In order to justify his actions, President Tong claimed that the relationship with Taiwan would positively impact Kiribati's economic development and attract Taiwanese businessmen to the small Pacific nation.
Consequences and Opposition
The termination of close cooperation with the PRC had a significant impact on Kiribati's economy, as China had been providing an annual aid of A$2 million. Tong also proposed major changes in the fishing industry, including reducing quotas for foreign fishing in Kiribati's Exclusive Economic Zone, increasing licensing fees for foreign vessels, and requiring foreign companies to build canneries within the republic's territory to address youth unemployment. These proposals were met with opposition from the former President of Kiribati, Teburoro Tito, as well as Anote Tong's older brother, Harry Tong.
Air Kiribati Controversy
Immediately after taking office, President Anote Tong decided to terminate the lease of a French ATR-72 aircraft that belonged to the national airline "Air Kiribati" and served international flights. The reason for this decision was the high cost of the lease, which amounted to A$10 million. This amount was deemed unsustainable for the budget of a small country like Kiribati.
