China disputes reports of artillery shell in Papua New Guinea

Chinese authorities have officially rejected claims that a suspected military-grade weapon originating from China was discovered inside a commercial shipping container in Papua New Guinea. Instead, diplomatic representatives asserted that the heavy item is simply a shell-shaped wine container rather than an explosive device.

Police officers in Port Meorsby initially detained four Chinese nationals following the discovery of the 32-kilogram object at a capital city construction site last Friday. Local law enforcement officials previously treated the find with high priority, investigating whether the apparatus was a live munition and labeling the situation a very concerning event.

Reports from the Australia Broadcasting Corporation later cited unnamed individuals who identified the item as an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 Artillery Projectile fitted with chemical explosives and a fuse. However, the BBC has not independently verified these claims. Meanwhile, the Chinese embassy released a public statement on social media declaring that the object poses zero risk and that smuggling an illegal military-grade projectile out of the country remains virtually impossible.

The embassy statement emphasized that the nation maintains exceptionally stringent firearm regulations and stands as a globally recognized safe territory. Despite these assurances, public skepticism emerged online regarding the diplomatic explanation. Commentators questioned how a wine bottle could weigh 32 kilograms and noted the total absence of product labeling on the surface of the object.

A disputed 32-kilogram object found in Papua New Guinea is claimed to be a wine bottle by Chinese authorities.

Why it matters

Papua New Guinea police had previously rejected any speculation that the heavy object was merely a dummy device. The conflicting accounts between local law enforcement and diplomatic officials highlight ongoing tensions and verification challenges surrounding security investigations involving imported commercial cargo in the region.