A diplomatic and security row has erupted in Papua New Guinea over a 32kg object discovered at a construction site in Port Moresby, with Chinese authorities rejecting suggestions that it is a weapon and insisting it is a shell-shaped wine bottle. The China-made artillery shell dispute has drawn sceptical reactions online and left local police investigating whether the item posed a genuine threat.
Arrests Follow Discovery in Port Moresby
Police in the Papua New Guinean capital arrested four Chinese nationals last Friday after the object was found at a commercial construction site. At the time, authorities were working to determine whether the device was live, according to local reports. Police Commissioner David Manning described the discovery as deeply troubling, saying it was a very concerning find.
The object’s weight and appearance initially raised fears that it could be an explosive device. Local newspaper Post Courier reported that police had earlier dismissed speculation that the item was merely a dummy, suggesting investigators were treating the possibility of a real weapon seriously.
Beijing Insists Object Is Harmless
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Chinese embassy in Papua New Guinea sought to calm concerns, stating that the object poses no danger at all. The embassy described it as a shell-shaped wine bottle and rejected any suggestion that it was a military item.
The embassy further argued that it would be virtually impossible for an illegal military-grade artillery shell to be smuggled out of China into Papua New Guinea. It pointed to what it called some of the world’s strictest firearm control laws and regulations, adding that China is widely recognised as one of the safest countries globally.
Reports Identify Suspected 130mm Projectile
The embassy’s explanation has not resolved the uncertainty. In a report on Wednesday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation cited unnamed sources identifying the object as an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 artillery projectile containing chemical explosives and a fuse. The BBC said it had not independently verified that report.
The discrepancy between the embassy’s account and the reported identification has fuelled public doubt. Several Facebook users responded to the embassy’s post with disbelief. One asked what sort of wine bottle weighs 32 kilograms, while another noted that the object bore no labels indicating it was a wine bottle.
Investigation Continues
The case remains unresolved as Papua New Guinea police continue to examine the object and the circumstances surrounding its arrival. The four arrested Chinese nationals have not been publicly identified, and no charges have been detailed in the reports available.
The incident has highlighted concerns about the movement of goods through commercial shipping containers and the challenges facing authorities when suspicious items are found at active construction sites. For now, the China-made artillery shell dispute hinges on competing claims: Beijing’s insistence that the object is a harmless novelty item, and local and international reports pointing to a potentially dangerous military device.
