Chinese authorities have disputed characterizations of an object discovered in Papua New Guinea, stating that the item is a novelty wine bottle rather than military ordnance. The 32-kilogram object was located at a construction site in Port Moresby last Friday, prompting police to arrest four Chinese nationals. Initial assessments from local law enforcement raised concerns about the item’s nature, with officials indicating they were investigating whether it posed an explosive hazard.
International media outlets reported on the discovery, with some citing sources who identified the object as a 130-millimeter Chinese Type 59 artillery projectile containing chemical explosives and a fuse. However, the BBC noted it had not independently verified these claims. Papua New Guinea authorities had previously stated the object was not a dummy device, contradicting some early speculation.
The Chinese embassy issued a statement characterizing the item as a wine bottle and asserting that the discovery raised no safety concerns. Officials emphasized China’s strict weapons control regulations and described the nation as highly secure, arguing that the illicit export of military-grade ammunition would be virtually impossible under such systems.
The statement generated skepticism on social media platforms, with commenters questioning the plausibility of the explanation. Some users noted the object’s substantial weight appeared inconsistent with a wine bottle, while others observed the item lacked typical labeling associated with commercial beverage products. The discrepancy between official explanations and eyewitness observations remained unresolved.
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