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Papua New Guinea authorities launched a joint operation with defence force explosive ordnance disposal personnel after a suspected artillery round was discovered among building materials in a commercial shipping container at a construction site in the capital. Police Commissioner David Manning described the find as a very concerning discovery that prompted swift action to secure the area and prevent any risk of harm to the public. Four Chinese nationals were taken into custody in connection with the incident on October 30, according to multiple local and regional reports, though it remained unclear whether formal charges had been filed as investigations continued. The National newspaper in Port Moresby reported that initial findings pointed to the item having been concealed in a container originating from overseas.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation cited high-level sources as saying a police report completed on November 3 identified the object as an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 artillery projectile containing chemical explosives and a fuse. An X-ray machine donated by Australia to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary was used to examine the 32-kilogram device before the analysis was passed to criminal investigators. PNG police had earlier dismissed speculation that the object was merely a dummy, according to the local Post-Courier newspaper, while the BBC noted it had not independently verified the identification of the projectile.
The Chinese embassy in Port Moresby stated on November 3 that an on-site verification by a company involved in the case determined the object was in fact a shell-shaped wine bottle. “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,” the embassy said in a social media post. “It poses no danger at all,” the statement added, while noting that the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary had been kept fully updated on developments.
The embassy emphasised that China maintains some of the world’s strictest firearm control laws and regulations, making it virtually impossible for an illegal military-grade artillery shell to be smuggled out of the country to Papua New Guinea. A statement distributed by the Global Times and South China Morning Post quoted the embassy as highlighting China’s low rates of homicide, criminal offences and gun violence. The embassy further said the Chinese government requires its citizens and enterprises overseas to strictly abide by local laws and to refrain from any illegal activities.
In its post, the embassy encouraged Chinese citizens and companies in Papua New Guinea to fulfil their social responsibilities, give back to local communities and make positive contributions to the country’s economic and social development as well as to broader bilateral cooperation. The South China Morning Post reported that the embassy was awaiting the official findings of the police investigation. The Epoch Times noted that novelty wine bottles shaped like artillery shells are sold online through various retailers, though it stopped short of linking any specific product to the Port Moresby discovery.
Regional media coverage of the incident has reflected the conflicting accounts, with Australian outlets emphasising the police assessment while Chinese state-affiliated publications highlighted the embassy’s explanation. The dispute emerged against the backdrop of deepening economic ties between China and Papua New Guinea, where Beijing has invested in infrastructure projects over the past decade. Police Commissioner Manning’s office has not yet released a final public determination on the object’s nature as the criminal investigation proceeds.
