Taiwan is closing its representative office in Papua New Guinea and ending new liquefied natural gas (LNG) purchases from the country, blaming Chinese political pressure for the decision.
Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Papua New Guinea had renewed demands for staff to leave the office in Port Moresby by a specified deadline and had pressed for the mission to be shut.
The ministry said the move reflected China’s efforts to influence the diplomatic decisions of other countries and restrict Taiwan’s international space.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and welcomed Papua New Guinea’s decision in July to close the office. Taiwan rejected that decision, allowing the mission to remain open temporarily.
Papua New Guinea has formal diplomatic relations with China, although it had permitted Taiwan to maintain a representative office in Port Moresby. The Pacific has been an area of diplomatic competition between Beijing and Taipei.
Taiwan had already said it would stop spot purchases of LNG from Papua New Guinea. On Friday, it added that no new spot purchase contracts would be signed.
Taiwanese LNG purchases made up one-third of Papua New Guinea’s exports. Last year, Taiwan imported about 8% of its natural gas from Port Moresby.
Taipei will also end technical co-operation and assistance programmes, including medical missions, scholarships and talent development schemes.
Taiwan has formal diplomatic ties with only three Pacific island nations – Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands – and maintains a representative office in Fiji. Twelve countries in total have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
