He was not able to take part in the February 2003 Presidential Election, as his party selected Taberannang Timeon to stand in his place.
Shortly thereafter, Tong questioned President Tito about the lease deal which enabled the People's Republic of China to maintain a satellite-tracking facility on Tarawa.
Tong emphasised that Chinese ambassador Ma Shuxue had admitted having donated €2,000 to a "cooperative society linked to Tito".
The resulting controversy brought down the President's newly elected government through a vote of no confidence in Parliament.
[13] Unlike his younger brother Anote, who as president has emphasised the need to adapt to climate change, and who has warned that Kiribati may disappear beneath the seas altogether, Harry Tong has stated that the ocean will never rise to a critical level in Kiribati, citing his religious beliefs: "God promised Noah there would not be another flood after the last one".