Taiwan closes Papua New Guinea office as Beijing pressure mounts

Taiwan said Wednesday it would shut its representative office in Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby, marking another diplomatic setback for the self-governed island as China intensifies efforts to isolate it internationally.

The closure reflects mounting pressure from Beijing on countries maintaining ties with Taipei. Papua New Guinea has been a longstanding diplomatic partner of Taiwan, though regional politics have grown increasingly complex in recent years.

Alongside the office closure, Taiwan announced it would discontinue purchases of liquefied natural gas from Papua New Guinea, a decision that underscores the economic dimensions of the diplomatic rift. Officials in Taipei attributed the office shutdown directly to Chinese pressure on the Pacific nation.

The development adds to Taiwan's shrinking diplomatic footprint globally, with only a handful of countries maintaining official relations with Taipei. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has been systematically working to reduce the island's international recognition and presence.