China claims Taiwan office closed in Papua New Guinea | News. az
Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOSChina’s government said on Thursday that Papua New Guinea had decided to close Taiwan’s office in the country, a move Beijing said it greatly appreciated. The Pacific has long. . .
Photo: Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOSChina’s government said on Thursday that Papua New Guinea had decided to close Taiwan’s office in the country, a move Beijing said it greatly appreciated. The Pacific has long been an area for diplomatic competition between China and Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory with no right to the trappings of a state. The democratically ruled island rejects China's sovereignty claims,News. Azreports, citingThe Independent. RECOMMENDED STORIESWhy 29 nations just joined a new China-led AI allianceHigher EU tariffs could push Chinese automakers toward VolkswagenFormer Hungarian FM resigns as lawmaker to join Chinese auto companyChina detains Czech citizen, sparking diplomatic scrambleThe Papua New Guinea foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment, and Reuters was unable to immediately find a government statement confirming the decision. Speaking at a regular news briefing in Beijing, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said the Papua New Guinea government's decision to close the Taipei Economic Office in Papua New Guinea was "highly appreciated" by China. "China stands ready to continue working with Papua New Guinea to support each other on issues concerning their core concerns and fundamental interests, and to jointly advance the comprehensive strategic relationship between the two countries," foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular news briefing. He added the decision demonstrates international commitment to the one-China principle. Taiwan's foreign ministry had no immediate comment. China's embassy in Papua New Guinea said in a statement that the "right decision" to close Taiwan's office would "further consolidate political foundation for the development of China-PNG bilateral relations". Taiwan has formal diplomatic ties with only three Pacific Islands nations - Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands - but had maintained a de facto embassy in Papua New Guinea. It also has a similar office in Fiji. News. AzBy Ulviyya Salmanli