Taiwan Closes Its Office in Papua New Guinea, Where Its Purchases Accounted for a Third of Gas Exports

Key Facts

Taiwan’s foreign ministry announced on November 6 that it was closing its representative office in Papua New Guinea and withdrawing all its staff, following an assessment it said was based on national dignity, diplomatic independence and the national interest. The decision followed repeated demands by Papua New Guinea for Taiwanese staff to leave their office in Port Moresby by a set deadline, and pressure to close it, Reuters reported. Taiwan’s foreign ministry said the steps reflected China’s use of “political pressure and economic influence to interfere in other countries’ diplomatic decisions and restrict Taiwan’s international presence.” The escalation combines a dispute over Taiwan’s representative presence in the country with trade and cooperation measures toward it. Taipei also announced it was ending cooperation and technical assistance programs for Papua New Guinea.

The office’s closure was not an isolated step in a process that had unfolded over the preceding months. In July, Papua New Guinea’s foreign minister announced that his country had decided to close the office immediately, but it remained open in the period after the announcement, according to Reuters. Taiwan’s foreign ministry says Papua later repeated its demands for the staff to leave and set a deadline, while also pressing for the office to be closed. On November 6, Taipei announced it would withdraw all staff, citing a comprehensive assessment and its position on national dignity, diplomatic independence and the national interest. The sequence shows that the July announcement did not end the office’s work at the time, and that Taiwan’s closure decision came after the demands and pressure to close it continued.

On energy, Taiwan has halted spot-market purchases of liquefied natural gas from Papua New Guinea and said it would not sign new spot purchase contracts with it. Planned spot gas purchases in the first half of 2026 were nearly 500,000 tons, Reuters reported, while a Taiwanese official said the halt meant forgoing the purchase of about 500,000 tons of LNG. The long-term supply contract remains in place: the official said Taiwan would continue to import 1.2 million tons annually under it. Taiwan had accounted for about a third of Papua New Guinea’s total LNG exports, according to Reuters. Taiwan’s foreign ministry said the change in purchasing policy would have a substantial effect on Papua New Guinea’s gas exports and foreign-exchange earnings, making the halt to spot purchases consequential for a major supplier even as the annual contract continues.

Alongside the gas issue, Taiwan announced it was ending all cooperation and technical assistance programs it provides to Papua New Guinea. The measures include technical and medical missions, scholarships and talent development programs, according to a statement by Taiwan’s foreign ministry. The ministry said the foundation of mutual trust on which bilateral cooperation had been built had been damaged, and that it would redirect diplomatic resources to other partners and regions with opportunities for cooperation. Taipei, meanwhile, said it had completed an assessment of its gas needs and adjusted its purchasing allocations, and had found alternative sources to ensure the stability of domestic energy supplies despite halting spot purchases from Papua New Guinea. The Taiwanese official said CPC would seek alternative supplies from other countries to ensure supply stability.

The dispute places relations between the two sides in the broader diplomatic context of the Pacific. Papua New Guinea had diplomatic relations with Taiwan briefly in 1999, according to Taiwan’s foreign ministry. Taiwan currently maintains formal relations with Palau, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, three Pacific island nations, and also has a representative office in Fiji. Taiwan has formal diplomatic relations with a total of 12 countries, according to Reuters. The Taiwanese official said the government would decide whether to resume spot purchases or take further measures depending on Papua New Guinea’s official response to its steps.