China has claimed that an artillery shell recovered on foreign soil is actually just a 70lb wine bottle.
Four Chinese nationals have been arrested in the capital of Papua New Guinea (PNG) after police found a massive artillery shell inside a commercial shipping container.
The scene was secured by police and military explosives officers.
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Using an X-ray machine donated by Australia, officers determined it was a 130 mm Chinese Type 59 artillery projectile, local media reports.
It is said to contain high explosives and is fitted with a fuse.
However, Chinese diplomats have played down the claims, saying it was merely a “harmless shell-shaped wine bottle”.
In the embassy’s social media post, it cited a company allegedly involved in verifying the device at the site.
“It poses no danger at all”, the embassy said.
In its statement, the embassy suggested its low rates of gun violence and harsh firearm controls make it “virtually impossible for an illegal military-grade artillery shell to be smuggled out of China to PNG.”
PNG is a strategically vital country due to its position in the South Pacific.
The US and China are competing for Papua New Guinea because whoever has influence over the country gains a significant strategic advantage in the area.
Washington wants to prevent Beijing from gaining a military foothold close to US allies Australia and Japan, while protecting vital shipping lanes and maintaining access to the region in the event of a conflict over Taiwan.
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