By Fatma Younis
Chinese authorities have rejected reports that a suspected artillery shell found in a shipping container in Papua New Guinea is a military device, insisting the 32-kilogram object is a shell-shaped wine bottle.
Discovery and Arrests
The object was uncovered last Friday at a construction site in Port Moresby, prompting police to arrest four Chinese nationals. Police Commissioner David Manning described the find as "a very concerning discovery," and authorities initially investigated whether it was a live explosive.
Chinese Embassy Response
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Chinese embassy in Papua New Guinea stated the item "poses no danger at all" and said it was "virtually impossible" for a military-grade artillery shell to be smuggled out of China. The embassy cited China's strict firearm control laws and its reputation as one of the world's safest countries.
Conflicting Reports
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation cited unnamed sources identifying the object as an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 Artillery Projectile containing chemical explosives and a fuse. The BBC has not independently verified that claim. Earlier, Papua New Guinea police dismissed speculation that the object was merely a dummy, according to the Post Courier newspaper.
Public Skepticism
Social media users expressed doubt over the wine bottle explanation. One commenter questioned what kind of wine bottle weighs 32 kilograms, while another noted the object bore no labels indicating it was a wine bottle.
