Chinese officials dispute a claim in Papua New Guinea that a 32kg, military-grade shell was found at a construction site, saying the object is actually a shell-shaped wine bottle. Police in Papua New Guinea arrested four Chinese nationals after the large object was discovered, prompting speculation about whether it was an artillery shell.

China’s embassy and related statements describe the item as harmless and say it poses no danger, while also indicating that officials are waiting for formal findings from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. BBC coverage notes that earlier PNG police had dismissed speculation that the object was a “dummy.” Other reporting highlights the embassy’s social media denial and the fact that a company connected to the case performed an on-site verification.

Across the outlets, the central dispute is the object’s nature—shell versus wine bottle—and the focus differs on how quickly PNG police dismissed speculation and how China characterizes the item as non-threatening while investigation results remain pending.