Reps. Amata and Dunn Meet With Leaders in Papua New Guinea as CCP Pressure Mounts
Papua, New Guinea – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amatawith Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) of the US House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party traveled to Papua New Guinea (PNG), meeting with PNG military, diplomats, and business leaders, Taiwan's Representative Office in PNG, and members of the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Meeting with PNG Major General Goina and Deputy Secretary of Defense Tunapai discussing security cooperation
Reps. Amata and Dunn 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.
“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.”
Members of Congress Amata and Neal Dunn in Papua New Guinea in front of the US Flag
“The key to unraveling and severing the CCP’s viperous coils around the Indo-Pacific is to amass like-minded 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.”
“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.
PNG CODEL Highlights:
- Meeting with PNG Major General Goina and Deputy Secretary of Defense Tunapai to discuss U.S.-PNG security cooperation.
- Coffee 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 Wonhengu, to discuss enhancing diplomatic and economic cooperation.
- Greeting U.S. Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Sailors from the USS America, in PNG helping in the aftermath 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.
- Visiting the USAID PEPFAR Health Site to discuss their work treating and preventing HIV/AIDS in PNG.
The meetings in Papua, New Guinea, completed a Congressional Delegation that included Australia, discussing the AUKUS alliance and speaking at the Australian American Leadership Dialogue, and a visit to Solomon Islands.
See more pictures here.
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