(Adnkronos) – Taiwan has announced the closure of its representative office in Papua New Guinea and the withdrawal of all personnel, accusing China of having exerted pressure on the authorities of the South Pacific country. The decision comes at the end of a diplomatic dispute that began last July, when the government of Port Moresby ordered the closure of the Taiwanese diplomatic representation in the capital, a measure contested by Taipei and welcomed by Beijing. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs specified that it will proceed independently with the closure of the office and a review of bilateral relations with Papua New Guinea.
“In the future, we will allocate resources to friendly countries and other regions with cooperation potential, to further deepen concrete relations and expand Taiwan’s international space,” the ministry said in a statement. Papua New Guinea, while maintaining official diplomatic relations with China, had until now allowed Taipei to maintain a representative office on its territory. Beijing, which considers Taiwan an integral part of its territory, opposes the island’s autonomous diplomatic relations and its participation in international organizations.
