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China claims 32kg shell found in PNG is wine bottle; police identify it as artillery
A 32kg shell-shaped object found in Papua New Guinea has been identified as an undetonated 130mm Chinese artillery projectile by police, but China's embassy claims it is a wine bottle. Four Chinese nationals remain in custody as the investigation continues.
Quick Facts
- 32kg shell-shaped object discovered in commercial shipping container
- Object secured and analyzed by PNG police and military explosives experts
- Police report identified object as undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 Artillery Projectile
- Chinese Embassy claimed object is a wine bottle
- Report provided to criminal investigators
A 32-kilogram shell-shaped object discovered in a commercial shipping container at a construction site in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, has sparked a dispute over its identity. Four Chinese nationals were arrested after the discovery on Friday. PNG police and military explosives experts secured the device and conducted analysis using an X-ray machine donated by Australia. According to a police report finalized on Wednesday and cited by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the object is an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 Artillery Projectile containing chemical explosives and a fuse. The report has been provided to criminal investigators.
The Chinese Embassy in Port Moresby has disputed this assessment. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the embassy posted on social media claiming the object is a "shell-shaped wine bottle" that "poses no danger at all." The embassy stated that a company linked to the incident conducted an "on-site verification" supporting this conclusion. Chinese officials emphasized that China enforces "some of the world's strictest firearm control laws and regulations" and argued it is "virtually impossible" for an illegal military-grade artillery shell to be smuggled out of China to Papua New Guinea.
Police Commissioner David Manning previously described the discovery as "a very concerning discovery" and praised the swift response of officers who secured the area to prevent harm. PNG police had earlier dismissed speculation that the object was "merely a dummy." The BBC has not independently verified the police identification of the object as an artillery projectile. Social media commenters have questioned the wine bottle explanation, noting that such a bottle would be unusually heavy and the object bore no labels indicating it was a wine bottle.
Why This Matters
The discovery of a 32kg object identified by PNG authorities as an undetonated 130mm artillery shell in a commercial shipping container raises questions about cargo inspection procedures and transnational supply chain security. The conflicting assessments—police identification as a military projectile versus the Chinese Embassy's claim it is a wine bottle—create ambiguity about smuggling risks, enforcement gaps, and diplomatic accountability. Four individuals remain in custody pending criminal investigation outcomes, and the object's true classification will affect charges, diplomatic relations between PNG and China, and regional port security protocols.