Taiwan Halts Spot LNG Purchases from Papua New Guinea Amid Diplomatic Rift
Taiwan has suspended spot purchases of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Papua New Guinea (PNG) due to diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The move comes after PNG ordered the closure of Taiwan's representative office in Port Moresby, which is a major escalation in their dispute.
The suspension only applies to spot-market LNG procurement and does not affect existing long-term supply agreements. Taiwan imported around 500,000 metric tons of LNG from PNG through spot purchases in the first quarter of this year.
The Taiwanese government emphasized that broader cooperation with Papua New Guinea remains largely unchanged, including programs covering agricultural development, technical assistance, and scholarship initiatives. Diplomatic discussions continue between senior officials from both sides to resolve the dispute.