The Government of Papua New Guinea has officially announced the immediate cessation of the operations and the formal closure of the physical presence of the Chinese Taipei Economic office in the country.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Justin W. Tkatchenko has formally communicated this decision to His Excellency Mr. Yang Xiaoguang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Papua New Guinea this week.

Minister Thatchenko said that this administrative action underscores the Marape-Rosso Government’s unwavering commitment to honoring, respecting, and upholding Papua New Guinea’s foundational One-China Policy which has served as the bedrock of the nation’s foreign policy framework for 50 years since the establishment of bilateral relations.

Papua New Guinea deeply values its long-standing strong partnership with the People’s Republic of China. The National Government looks forward to exploring new avenues of strategic cooperation, expanded trade, and mutual socio-economic development that will bring lasting, tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries.

Chinese Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Yang Xiaoguang, said that the Chinese side highly appreciates and applauds the PNG government’s right decision to close down the “Taipei Economic Office in Papua New Guinea”.

He said, “It demonstrates once again that upholding the One-China principle is where international public opinion trends and the arc of history bends. There is but one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory, and the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. Any form of “Taiwan independence” separatist activities will invariably fail. All efforts made by the Chinese Government to realize reunification is widely supported.” Tonga is also one of the countries in the Pacific that is committed to the One-China Policy.