Beijing Claims Seized Object in Papua New Guinea Is Wine Bottle, Not Artillery Shell

The Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea has rejected claims that a 32-kilogram object seized by police at a construction site in Port Moresby is a military projectile, asserting that the item is a shell-shaped wine bottle. The statement follows the arrest of four Chinese nationals in the Pacific nation's capital and reports indicating that law enforcement had uncovered live military munitions inside a commercial shipping container.

Papua New Guinea police conducted the operation last Friday at a commercial development site in Port Moresby. Police Commissioner David Manning confirmed the action, describing the initial discovery of the heavy metallic object as a concerning development for local security forces. Early reports published by the local newspaper Post-Courier noted that investigators had dismissed initial speculation that the item was a harmless replica or dummy round.

A report published on Wednesday by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, citing unnamed sources, identified the confiscated item as an undetonated 130-millimetre Type 59 artillery projectile produced in China. According to those sources, the projectile was fitted with a fuse and contained chemical explosives.

In a public statement issued on Tuesday, the Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby disputed the characterisation of the object, claiming that it was a decorative bottle designed in the shape of an artillery shell. It poses no danger at all, the embassy stated, adding that strict domestic arms control laws in China make the illegal transport of military-grade munitions out of the country virtually impossible. Embassy officials further stated that China is widely recognised as one of the safest countries globally.

The explanation drew questioning from members of the public in Papua New Guinea. Social media users pointed out that an item weighing 32 kilograms far exceeds the weight of typical beverage containers and noted that photographs of the object showed no standard commercial labelling or brand markings. Local authorities have not publicly confirmed whether forensic testing on the seized item has concluded.

Written by Thomas Nussbaumer thomas.nussbaumer@alpineweekly.com