China praises Papua New Guinea after it orders Taiwan office closure

Papua New Guinea’s decision to ask Taiwan to close a representative office in the Pacific draws backing from China, which says the move supports its longstanding position that Taiwan is part of China. Bloomberg reports that China lauds Papua New Guinea for the decision, which it views as reducing Taiwan’s international presence. The Japan Times adds detail from Taiwan’s side: Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry says Papua New Guinea made the decision without consultation, and Taiwan lodges a formal protest with Papua New Guinea. It also says the office continued normal operations despite the announcement. The two accounts align on the key elements of the dispute: Papua New Guinea directs Taiwan to close the office; China publicly endorses Papua New Guinea’s action; and Taiwan challenges the process and protests. No additional specifics about the timing of the closure or the immediate operational consequences are provided in the available summaries. The incident is framed as part of broader tensions over diplomatic recognition and Taiwan’s efforts to maintain international representation.