BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Nauru should apologize for its behavior, after its president, Baron Waqa, demanded China formally apologize following a dispute with Beijing’s representative at this week’s Pacific Islands Forum.

Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying made the comment at a daily news briefing in Beijing.

Nauru hosted leaders of 18 Pacific nations, plus delegations from non-member countries including the United States and China, and Waqa criticized China’s envoy as “very insolent” and a “bully” for speaking out of turn at the forum’s opening session.

Nauru and China do not have diplomatic ties. Nauru instead recognizes Taiwan, which China views as a wayward Chinese province.