The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Taiwan will close its representative
office in Papua New Guinea and withdraw all personnel stationed there.

This was after PNG recently reiterated its demand that Taiwanese staffers
leave the country by a set deadline.

MOFA said the decision was made in consideration of Taiwan's national
dignity, diplomatic autonomy and overall interests.

PNG unilaterally announced in July that it would close Taiwan's
representative office, prompting Taiwan to suspend spot-market purchases of
LNG from the Pacific nation.

MOFA said PNG's actions had seriously undermined mutual trust built through
years of cooperation. It also accused China of using political pressure and
economic influence to interfere in other countries' diplomatic decisions and
restrict Taiwan's international space.

The ministry said that along with closing the office, Taiwan will terminate
all technical cooperation and assistance programs in PNG, including medical
missions, scholarships and personnel training.

KMT caucus secretary-general Hsu Yu-chen (許宇甄) said today that the government
can't limit its response to condemning external forces.

She said it needs to conduct a deep review of its diplomatic and cross-strait
strategies ... and return to what she calls "pragmatic diplomacy."

CNA_JvW