China calls alleged artillery shell in Papua New Guinea a “wine bottle”
Chinese officials say the 32‑kg object found in Port Moresby is a harmless wine bottle, not a live artillery round.
Police in Port Moresby arrested four Chinese nationals on Friday after a 32 kg object was discovered at a construction site in the capital.
Port Moresby police commissioner David Manning called the find “a very concerning discovery” while authorities investigated whether the object was a live device.
In a Wednesday report, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation quoted unnamed sources that identified the object as an undetonated 130 mm Chinese Type 59 artillery projectile containing chemical explosives and a fuse. The BBC has not independently verified the claim.
Local newspaper Post Courier earlier rejected speculation that the item was merely a dummy.
The Chinese embassy responded on Facebook, labeling the object a “shell‑shaped wine bottle” and asserting it “poses no danger at all.” The embassy added that it is “virtually impossible” for an illegal military‑grade artillery shell to be smuggled out of China to Papua New Guinea, citing China’s strict firearm control laws and its reputation as a safe country.
Social media users reacted skeptically, with one comment asking, “What sort of wine bottle weighs 32 kilograms?” and another noting the lack of any wine‑bottle labels on the object.
The dispute highlights the tension between local authorities’ security concerns and Beijing’s diplomatic denial.
