Taiwan to close Papua New Guinea office and halt spot-market LNG purchases

AI Summary

Taiwan plans to close its representative office in Papua New Guinea after the Pacific nation repeatedly called for its closure under its one-China policy. Taipei says the move will end longstanding cooperation and stop Taiwanese spot-market purchases of PNG liquefied natural gas, potentially reducing export earnings.

Taiwan will close its representative office in Papua New Guinea later this month after the Pacific island country repeatedly demanded its closure, citing its “one-China policy”. The withdrawal will cut off Taiwanese technical assistance and end decades of cooperation with PNG, including halting spot-market purchases of the country’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) – a move Taipei said could deal a blow to the nation’s export earnings. “It is deeply regrettable that, under pressure from [Beijing],...