Select Committee Meets Leaders in Papua New Guinea as CCP Pressure Mounts

PAPUA NEW GUINEA- Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) of the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party and Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa) traveled to Papua New Guinea (PNG), meeting with PNG military, and foreign ministry officials, business leaders, Taiwan's Representative Office in PNG, and members of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Reps. Dunn and Radewagen discussed the importance of strengthening the PNG-U.S. relationship and security cooperation in the face of the Chinese Communist Party's economic, diplomatic, and military pressure campaign in the region.

“Chinese Communist Party aggression threatens peace and stability for everyone in the Indo-Pacific. Papua New Guinea has been a tremendous partner to the United States and I look forward to building on this visit and all the recent momentum in the relationship to take our friendship to new heights in years to come,” Chairman Gallagher said.

“The key to unraveling and severing the CCP’s viperous coils around the Indo-Pacific is to amass like-mind allies such as our brothers and sisters in Papua New Guinea (PNG)." said Congressman Dunn. "I’m grateful to the strong and motivated PNG leaders we met with who share our vision to strengthen our friendship and put a stop to the CCP’s transnational aggression and repression. It’s time to be strong and willing to do something tougher to cut the many heads of this encroaching Medusa. I look forward to partnering with our friends and allies now to protect freedom and democracy in the Pacific.”

“The island nations in the Pacific have an important role in the mutual security, stability, and prosperity we all seek for our countries,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Most importantly, we must keep the world’s largest ocean free and open. Papua New Guinea and the United States will continue working together, building on our partnerships and these discussions, and sharing in our common interests in the Pacific region.”

Read more about additional highlights from their trip below.

Meeting with PNG Major General Goina and Deputy Secretary of Defense Tunapai to discuss U.S.-PNG security cooperation.

Meeting with Jeffrey Pan from the Taiwan Representative Office to discuss Taiwan's work in PNG.

Meeting with the Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Elias Wohengu, to discuss ways in which the U.S. and PNG can enhance diplomatic and economic cooperation.

Reps. Dunn and Radewagen greet U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and sailors from the USS America, in PNG helping in the aftermath of a volcano eruption in Bougainville.

Meeting with representatives of PNG's Autonomous Region of Bougainville, First Secretary to the President, Laurie Patrick, and Former Speaker of the first ABG House of Representatives, Nick Peniai. 

Visit to the USAID PEPFAR Health Site to discuss the site's work with those in PNG affected by HIV/AIDS.

Dinner event with the American Chamber of Commerce Coral Sea and local business leaders.

Click HERE for pictures from the representatives' visit to Papua New Guinea.