Chinese authorities have officially dismissed reports suggesting that a suspected artillery shell discovered in Papua New Guinea was a live weapon. In a statement released on Tuesday via Facebook, the Chinese embassy identified the object as a "shell-shaped wine bottle," asserting that it poses no danger whatsoever.
The controversy began last Friday when police in Port Moresby arrested four Chinese nationals following the discovery of a 32kg object at a construction site in the capital. At the time, local authorities treated the find with high seriousness; Police Commissioner David Manning described it as a "very concerning discovery," and officials investigated whether the item was an active device. Earlier reports from the Post Courier noted that Papua New Guinea police had already rejected speculation that the object was merely a dummy.
On Wednesday, the Australia Broadcasting Corporation cited unnamed sources claiming the item was an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 Artillery Projectile containing chemical explosives and a fuse. The BBC noted that it has not independently verified these specific claims. In response to such reports, the Chinese embassy stated that it is "virtually impossible" for illegal military-grade artillery shells to be smuggled out of China to Papua New Guinea. The statement emphasized that China enforces some of the world's strictest firearm control laws and is widely recognized as one of the safest countries globally.
Despite the official explanation, skepticism remains among the public. Several users on Facebook expressed doubt regarding the embassy's claim, with one questioning what type of wine bottle could weigh 32 kilograms. Another observer pointed out that the object lacked any labels indicating it was a container for wine.
Sources: BBC News World.