Papua New Guinea PM: "One China" Policy Remains Intact

CANBERRA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Mekere Morauta, prime minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG), said on Wednesday that the country's "One China" policy remains intact.

In a statement faxed to Xinhua, Morauta said that "normal procedures for opening diplomatic relations with other countries, which have applied since independence, were not properly followed in the case of Taiwan."

"Papua New Guinea's long-standing 'One China' policy of maintaining state-to-state relations with the People's Republic of China, therefore, remains intact," he said.

He said that he directed the Department of Foreign Affairs to prepare options for cabinet which will allow PNG to honor existing agreements and further strengthen relations with China.

After being briefed by officials on important foreign policy issues, Morauta expressed "the greatest surprise and concern at the irregular way in which the former government attempted to open 'formal diplomatic ties' with Taiwan."