Papua New Guinea shuts Taiwan trade office, deepening ties with Beijing

Papua New Guinea has closed Taiwan's trade mission in the country, a move that Beijing announced on Thursday and that Taiwan officials described as catching them off guard. According to Reuters via KELO-AM, China's government confirmed the decision, while ABC News Australia reported that the closure effectively freezes out one of Papua New Guinea's top trading partners.

KELO-AMChina says Papua New Guinea has closed Taiwan’s office in the country

The decision represents a significant strategic shift for the Pacific nation. ABC News Australia noted that Taiwan is Papua New Guinea's fifth largest trading partner, and the closure is designed to reaffirm ties with China. The move aligns Papua New Guinea more closely with Beijing's diplomatic campaign to isolate Taipei.

China's announcement came through its foreign ministry, which welcomed the closure as a step toward the One China principle. KELO-AM reported that the Chinese government said Papua New Guinea had decided to close Taiwan's office in the country, without providing further details on the timing or logistics of the shutdown.

Taiwanese officials were caught off guard by the decision, according to ABC News Australia, which did not elaborate on any immediate retaliatory measures. The closure adds to a series of diplomatic setbacks for Taiwan, as Beijing continues to pressure Pacific nations to sever unofficial ties with the self-ruled island.