PNG Prime Minister Marape: Reaffirming the One-China Policy Is a Sovereign Decision, Not the Result of Coercion
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has issued a statement on the closure of Taiwan's representative office, firmly rejecting suggestions that Papua New Guinea's reaffirmation of its One-China policy was the result of political pressure or economic coercion, describing such claims as inaccurate and a misunderstanding of the country's sovereign foreign policy. PNG media reported the statement on November 13; it responds to remarks by Taiwan's foreign affairs chief Lin Chia-lung.
Marape said Papua New Guinea is an independent and sovereign nation whose foreign policy is determined by its national interests and constitutional processes, not by pressure from any external power. His government, he said, has maintained a One-China policy since establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1976, a position held consistently by successive governments for nearly five decades, and the Cabinet had carefully deliberated before reaffirming it. He said Papua New Guinea recognises the government of the People's Republic of China in Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China, and respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity just as it expects all nations to respect Papua New Guinea's; as a sovereign state, he said, Papua New Guinea cannot adopt double standards on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nations. The issues between Beijing and Taipei, he added, are for those directly concerned to resolve peacefully, and Papua New Guinea does not intend to become entangled in matters outside its jurisdiction and national interests.
Responding to suggestions that Taiwan might review its purchases of Papua New Guinean liquefied natural gas, Marape said commercial decisions rest with the parties to existing contracts, which are governed by commercial and legal obligations, and that Papua New Guinea "will not be intimidated by suggestions of economic retaliation for exercising our sovereign right to determine our own foreign policy." He said that in his bilateral discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, he received assurances that China stands ready to expand imports of Papua New Guinean products, including LNG, agricultural produce, fisheries products and timber. "Our foreign policy is made in Port Moresby," he said.
Former prime minister Peter O'Neill has criticised the office closure as damaging to trade and investment ties with Taiwan; Marape dismissed the criticism, saying the One-China policy does not prevent legitimate business-to-business relationships, private investment, trade or cooperation at provincial and subnational levels, and that O'Neill should stop frightening people with misleading claims. GSM previously reported that Taiwan announced on November 6 the closure of its representative office in Papua New Guinea and the withdrawal of all staff, and that China's foreign ministry welcomed the move the same day.
China Welcomes Papua New Guinea's Closure of Taipei Economic Office, Offers Expanded LNG Imports
(Source: Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council of Papua New Guinea)
Source: 巴布亚新几内亚总理与国家执行委员会部
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：巴布亚新几内亚总理马拉佩（2023年5月在莫尔兹比港对记者讲话，资料图）。照片：美国国务院，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape speaking to the press in Port Moresby in May 2023 (file photo). Photo by the US Department of State, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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