Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape responded to President Joe Biden’s recent remarks implying his uncle may have been eaten by cannibals in the South Pacific island nation during World War II. Marape stated that his country does not deserve that label and such loose comments do not reflect the relationship between the two nations. Biden’s comments came during a speech at a war memorial in Pennsylvania where he mentioned his uncle Ambrose Finnegan, a pilot whose plane was shot down over Papua New Guinea and his body was never found because of the presence of cannibals in the region.
Marape expressed his disappointment over Biden’s remarks, stating that they appeared to imply his uncle was eaten by cannibals, which is not an accurate portrayal of Papua New Guinea. He emphasized that World War II was not the doing of his people but a conflict they were dragged into unnecessarily. Marape urged the Biden administration to clear the wreckage of the war, including bombs, and find the remains of servicemen who lost their lives during the conflict, such as Ambrose Finnegan.
The Prime Minister also addressed Biden’s comments in a Sunday interview, acknowledging that everyone has “loose moments” but highlighting that the relationship between the two countries is stronger than one such instance. Marape noted that during their four previous meetings, Biden has always shown warm regards for Papua New Guinea and has never spoken of the country in connection with cannibals. His statement comes at a time when Papua New Guinea has been trying to strengthen its ties with the U.S. as part of efforts to prevent China from gaining influence over the region.
Marape’s response to Biden’s comments came soon after he hosted China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Port Moresby. Papua New Guinea has been a target for both the U.S. and China in their efforts to gain allies in the Pacific region. Last year, the two countries signed a defense and maritime cooperation agreement, signaling closer ties between them. During Wang’s visit, he criticized the AUKUS Indo-Pacific alliance between Australia, the U.S., and the U.K., claiming it instigated division that was not in line with the urgent needs of Pacific Island countries.
The State Department’s travel advisory for Papua New Guinea urges U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to the country, citing reasons such as unexploded ordnance, presumably from World War II. The presence of such dangerous remnants from the war serves as a reminder of the historical context in which Biden’s comments were made. Marape’s call for respect and understanding in the relationship between the two nations reflects a broader effort to move past stereotypes and misconceptions about Papua New Guinea and its people.
