# China rejects claim shell found at Port Moresby construction site is live device

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/weapon-or-wine-bottle-china-disputes-reports-of-artillery-shell-in-papua-new-guinea/
- Published: 2026-11-04T03:46:10+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-04T04:52:19+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC World (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm0qkxzv3j99o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Asia, World

## Key points

- China says the 32kg object is a shell-shaped wine bottle.
- Reports identify it as an undetonated artillery projectile.
- Papua New Guinea police arrested four Chinese nationals.

## Summary

Chinese authorities say a 32kg object found at a construction site in Port Moresby is a wine bottle shaped like a shell, rejecting reports that it is a Chinese-made artillery projectile. The dispute matters because Papua New Guinea police are investigating whether the object is a live device, while its identity remains unverified.

Police arrested four Chinese nationals after the object was found last Friday. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, citing unnamed sources, reported that it was an undetonated 130mm Type 59 projectile containing explosives and a fuse; the BBC said it could not independently verify this. The Chinese embassy said smuggling such a shell from China was virtually impossible, while commenters questioned whether a wine bottle could weigh 32kg or lack a label.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.