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Taiwan closes its Papua New Guinea office and withdraws staff

Taiwan is shutting its representative office in Papua New Guinea after renewed demands for its personnel to leave. Technical and medical cooperation, scholarships and training will end alongside the withdrawal. Taipei blames Chinese pressure for the closure demand and says it has already suspended spot purchases of Papua New Guinean liquefied natural gas.

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Side view of boxes, a closed suitcase, folders and empty shelves in Taiwan’s representative office in Port Moresby as it is packed for closure.

Renewed demands precede the withdrawal

Taiwan will close its representative office in Papua New Guinea and withdraw its personnel after renewed demands from the country's government. Taiwan's foreign ministry announced the decision on 6 November and blamed Chinese political and economic pressure for the closure demand.[1], [2]

The office is in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea's capital. Its government had first announced the closure in July, but the mission remained open in the intervening period. Taipei said the latest demand required its personnel to leave within a specified deadline, and cited diplomatic autonomy and national dignity in deciding to withdraw.[1]

Medical missions and scholarships will end

The withdrawal also ends Taiwan's technical cooperation and assistance programmes in Papua New Guinea. Technical and medical missions, scholarships and personnel training are included. The ministry accused the Papua New Guinean government of damaging trust built through years of cooperation and accused China of restricting Taiwan's international space.[1]

Taipei halts new spot gas purchases

Taiwan had suspended spot-market purchases of liquefied natural gas from Papua New Guinea after the July announcement. The ministry says no new spot contracts will be signed. It had planned about 500,000 tonnes of such purchases in the first half of the year. Taipei says it has since assessed domestic demand, adjusted procurement and arranged alternative supplies to maintain energy provision.[1]

References

  1. News sourceFocus TaiwanTaiwan decides to close Papua New Guinea office and withdraw staff↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourceNikkei AsiaTaiwan closes its representative office in Papua New Guinea↩
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