Taiwan Accuses China of Elite Capture After PNG Office Closure

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung accused China of employing an elite capture strategy to influence leaders in the South Pacific, specifically targeting Papua New Guinea. The accusation follows a July 16 order by Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko to immediately close the Taipei Economic Office to adhere to a one-China policy.

Lin asserted that Tkatchenko's unilateral decision reflected a personal position rather than a Cabinet directive, alleging that China provided direct benefits to the minister. He described elite capture as the use of incentives or debt to bring nations under Beijing's control. Despite the order, the Taipei Economic Office continues normal operations while the Papua New Guinea Cabinet conducts a two-year relationship review.

Zhang Han, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, praised the move, stating that upholding the one-China principle is a fundamental norm of international relations. In response to the diplomatic friction, Taiwan is assessing its imports of liquefied natural gas from Papua New Guinea, which constitute roughly one-third of the nation's LNG exports.