Four Chinese nationals remain in custody in Port Moresby after police discovered a 32-kilogram Chinese Type 59 artillery projectile inside a commercial shipping container at a local wharf. While local authorities secured the device using an Australian-donated X-ray machine, the Chinese Embassy suggested the object was merely a wine bottle.
An ordinary cargo inspection at a commercial shipping container wharf in Port Moresby took a volatile turn when police discovered a heavy military-grade explosive hidden inside. Four Chinese nationals were arrested at the scene on Friday as military explosives experts rushed to secure the site.
Police and Military Analysis of the 32-Kilogram Projectile
The device, weighing 32 kilograms, required specialized screening equipment. Authorities utilized an X-ray machine that Australia donated to the Royal Papua New Guinea Police to examine the object safely.
High-level sources confirmed that a formal police report finalised today identified the recovered item as an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 Artillery Projectile, complete with chemical explosives and a fuse. Investigators handling the case have incorporated the findings directly into the criminal files.
Chinese Embassy Claims the Object Is a Wine Bottle
Despite the police findings, the diplomatic response took an unusual turn. The Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby issued a social media statement maintaining that an affiliated company had investigated the matter and determined the item posed no threat.
According to the company involved and following an on-site verification, the object in question — reported as an ‘artillery shell’ — is in fact a shell-shaped wine bottle. It poses no danger at all.
Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby, via ABC
Embassy officials also questioned the plausibility of active Chinese military hardware being trafficked into the Pacific nation. At the same time, diplomats stated they were keeping Papua New Guinea police fully updated on the developments while official investigative findings remain pending.
Security Response and Diplomatic Pressures
The discovery lands amid broader regional tensions. China has recently urged Papua New Guinea to avoid signing agreements that might exclude third parties from cooperating with the Pacific nation, even as Australia works to secure a landmark defense treaty.
Police Commissioner David Manning commended the swift response of local forces who locked down the commercial zone before explosives experts moved in to remove the item.
Police acted quickly upon receiving information that the artillery round had been discovered. The area was secured to prevent the risk of harm in the surrounding area. This enabled police and military explosive disposal experts to move in, examine the device and have it safely moved to be stored in a secure facility.
David Manning, Police Commissioner, via ABC
The four detained Chinese citizens remain in custody in Port Moresby as the investigation continues.
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