By Karim Hammam
China has dismissed a suspected artillery shell discovered in Papua New Guinea as a harmless “shell-shaped wine bottle,” after police arrested four Chinese nationals over the find.
Police Arrest Four Chinese Nationals
Port Moresby police detained the four individuals last week after a 32-kilogram object resembling a military-grade shell was uncovered at a construction site inside a shipping container.
Chinese Embassy Denies Military Origin
The Chinese embassy in Port Moresby stated on Facebook that the object was a wine bottle posing no danger, adding that China’s strict firearm controls make it “virtually impossible” for an illegal artillery shell to be smuggled out of the country.
Australian Media Contradicts Claim
Australia’s ABC broadcaster reported, citing sources, that X-ray analysis using equipment donated by Australia identified the object as an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 artillery projectile containing chemical explosives and a fuse.
Social Media Ridicule
The embassy’s “wine bottle” explanation drew widespread mockery online, with users questioning how a wine bottle could weigh 32 kilograms and accusing Beijing of amateurish deception.
Regional Tensions Context
The incident comes amid heightened competition between China and the United States for influence in the Pacific. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently told a Pacific delegation that Beijing’s engagement is based on South-South cooperation, not geopolitical rivalry. China and Papua New Guinea marked 50 years of diplomatic ties in September, months after Port Moresby closed its office in Taiwan.
