PNG’s Taiwan shift raises questions

By Sam Garcia / Staff writer, with CNA Add TT as Preferred Source Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) abrupt decision to close Taiwan’s representative office was mainly driven by its foreign minister and might not reflect a consensus within the PNG government, where support remains for maintaining cooperation with Taiwan, a Taiwanese foreign affairs official said yesterday. China has in recent years increased its diplomatic, economic and infrastructure investment in PNG, while Port Moresby has maintained close economic and security cooperation with countries such as Australia, the official said. As Indo-Pacific strategic competition intensifies and China expands its military activities in the Pacific, including recent missile tests, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue monitoring developmen