World

Taiwan to Shut Port Moresby Office and Cease LNG Purchases Amid China‑Influenced Pressure

By Al Jazeera Staff

Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday that it will close its representative office in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, and stop buying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the country. The ministry said Papua New Guinea had repeatedly demanded that Taiwan’s staff leave the office within a set deadline and had pushed for its closure, attributing the pressure to China’s use of political and economic influence. China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, welcomed Papua New Guinea’s July decision to shutter the office. Taipei had rejected the move, and the office remained open until now. The Pacific region has long been a field of diplomatic competition between China and Taiwan. Papua New Guinea maintains formal diplomatic relations with China but had allowed Taiwan a representative office in Port Moresby. Taiwan has formal diplomatic ties with only three Pacific Island nations—Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands—and a representative office in Fiji; only 12 countries maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Taiwan had previously announced it had stopped spot purchases of LNG from Papua New Guinea, and the ministry said it will also no longer sign new spot purchase contracts. Taiwanese LNG purchases accounted for one‑third of Papua New Guinea’s LNG exports, and last year Taiwan imported about 8 percent of its natural gas from Port Moresby. Taipei will also end technical cooperation and assistance programmes, including medical missions, related scholarships and talent development programmes.