Taiwan Cuts LNG Imports After Papua New Guinea Office Closure
Taiwan is closing its representative office in Papua New Guinea and suspending liquefied natural gas imports after the Pacific nation ordered the office's closure.
The Government of the Republic of China is closing its representative office in Port Moresby and withdrawing all personnel following repeated demands from the government of Papua New Guinea. The closure, which Papua New Guinea attributes to its one-China policy and national interests, also results in the termination of all Taiwanese technical cooperation, medical missions, and scholarship programs.
In response, Taiwan has suspended spot-market purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Papua New Guinea and will not sign new spot-purchase contracts. Because Taiwan previously accounted for approximately one-third of the Pacific nation's LNG exports, Taipei warned the move will significantly impact Papua New Guinea's foreign exchange earnings.
Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributed the closure to political and economic pressure from China intended to restrict Taiwan's international space. While Prime Minister James Marape denied acting under Chinese pressure, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China praised the decision as a demonstration of global support for the one-China principle and expressed readiness to increase its own LNG imports from Papua New Guinea.
The United States Department of State expressed deep concern over the development, characterizing the office closure as part of a broader campaign of intimidation by Beijing against Taiwan and its international partners.
