Papua New Guinea shuts Taiwan's economic office, praised by China

Papua New Guinea Taiwan office closure China approval US State Department response Pacific diplomatic competition

On July 16, 2026 Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister Justin Tkatchenko announced the immediate closure of Taiwan’s Taipei Economic Office in Port Moresby, stating “the physical presence of Chinese Taipei will no longer be recognised or required within the jurisdiction of Papua New Guinea.” Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the move unilateral, said the office would continue to operate to serve nationals, and sought support from “like‑minded countries.”

China’s foreign ministry welcomed the decision, describing it as “highly appreciated” and saying it would “further consolidate the political foundation for the development of China‑PNG bilateral relations.” The United States State Department responded that the action “is another example of Beijing intimidation of Taiwan and its global supporters,” warning that it undermines sovereign choices of partner nations. PNG’s foreign ministry did not comment, and a Reuters inquiry did not locate an official PNG statement.

The closure ends a de‑facto Taiwanese diplomatic presence in a country that had replaced its Taiwan trade mission with an economic office in 2023. Taiwan maintains formal ties with only three Pacific states; the loss of the PNG office highlights the intensifying diplomatic competition between China and Taiwan in the Pacific, a region also of strategic interest to the United States and Australia.