Indo-Pacific — 2026-07-20

Papua New Guinea Orders Closure of Taiwans Representative Office Under Chinese Pressure, US Says Deeply Concerned

BLUFBeijing's capture of another Pacific diplomatic post narrows Taiwan's regional presence, but Taipei is unlikely to curtail PNG LNG purchases within 90 days given the corridor's strategic value.

Papua New Guinea Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko announced this week that the government had ordered the immediate closure of Taiwan's representative office in Port Moresby, citing the country's "one China" policy commitment 12. The US State Department said Friday it was "deeply concerned" by the closure, calling it part of a Beijing intimidation campaign against Taiwan and its international partners that undermines other countries' sovereign choices 123. Taiwan's foreign ministry protested the move as made without prior consultation, and Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung said Taipei is reviewing roughly 1.2 million tonnes of annual LNG imports from PNG, about a third of the Pacific nation's LNG exports 3. China's foreign ministry said it "highly commends" PNG's decision, and Taiwan Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim said Taiwan faces an "extremely difficult" diplomatic situation as China suppresses it "everywhere" 23.

Analysis
Beijing's win in Port Moresby strips another economic anchor from Taiwan's Pacific footprint, forcing Taipei to weigh a symbolic downgrade against roughly a third of the exporter's LNG revenue. Taiwan formally reducing or canceling its 1.2 million tonnes of annual PNG LNG imports within 90 days is unlikely, since the corridor bypasses the Strait of Hormuz and Malacca chokepoints and Taipei has signaled review rather than termination. High confidence attaches to this judgment, reflecting Taipei's stated intent to reassess without naming a substitute supplier and PNG's continued reliance on the trade. Washington's rebuke will keep pressure on Beijing's messaging without altering the underlying energy calculus.
5 sources
  1. U.S. expresses concern over PNG order to close Taiwan office - Focus Taiwan (CNA)
  2. US 'deeply concerned' over Papua New Guinea's Taiwan office closure - Nikkei Asia
  3. Taipei reassesses ties with PNG after office closure - Taipei Times
  4. China Follows Submarine Missile Test with Diplomatic Strike on Taiwan via PNG, US Says Deeply Concerned - EurAsian Times
  5. China Suppressing Taiwan 'Everywhere', Vice President Says of PNG Pressure - Reuters (Ben Blanchard, with Renju Jose and Joe Cash)

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