Key facts
- Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said Taiwan will close its Port Moresby office later in November and withdraw all stationed personnel.
- Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said no new spot LNG contracts will be signed with Papua New Guinea.
- The ministry said projected spot LNG procurement from Papua New Guinea for the first half of 2026 was about 500,000 tons.
- Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said Taipei's energy supply would not be affected by the suspension of spot LNG purchases.
- Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko announced in July 2026 that the government would uphold the one-China policy.
Taiwan will close its representative office in Papua New Guinea later in November and end its technical cooperation with the Pacific island country, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on November 12. The ministry said Papua New Guinea had recently renewed unilateral demands for personnel at the Taipei Economic Office in Port Moresby to leave within a specified time frame and for the mission to be shut down.
The ministry said the decision followed a comprehensive assessment and cited national dignity, diplomatic autonomy and overall national interests. It said the foundation of mutual trust built through long-term cooperation had been seriously undermined by Papua New Guinea's actions, and that the situation reflected China's use of political pressure and economic influence on other nations' diplomatic decisions.
Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko announced in July 2026 that the government of Prime Minister Marape had decided to honor and uphold the one-China policy, according to the ABC report. A Papua New Guinea government statement at the time said the physical presence of Chinese Taipei would no longer be recognized or required within its jurisdiction. Taiwan established its office in Port Moresby in February 1990.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry said Taiwan has also completely stopped buying liquefied natural gas from Papua New Guinea. It said projected spot volume procurement for the first half of 2026 was approximately 500,000 tons and that no new spot contracts would be signed. The ministry said Taiwan had long been a key market for Papua New Guinea's natural gas, accounting for roughly one-third of total LNG exports, and that the change would have a substantial impact on the country's gas exports and foreign exchange earnings. It said Taipei's energy supply would not be affected.