Papua New Guinea PM accuses Biden of ‘loose talk’ after claim uncle was eaten by cannibal

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape has accused President Joe Biden of disparaging the South Pacific island nation by implying that his uncle was eaten by “cannibals” there during World War II.

The president spoke at a Pennsylvania war memorial last week about his Army Air Corps aviator uncle Ambrose Finnegan, who was shot down over Papua New Guinea.

“They never found the body because there used to be — there were a lot of cannibals for real in that part of New Guinea,” Mr Biden said, referring to the country’s main island.

Mr Biden’s comments offended the key strategic ally as China moves to increase its influence in the region.

Mr Marape said in a statement on Sunday that Mr Biden “appeared to imply his uncle was eaten by cannibals”.

“President Biden’s remarks may have been a slip of the tongue; however, my country does not deserve to be labeled as such,” Mr Marape said in a statement provided by his office to The Associated Press on Monday.

“World War II was not the doing of my people; however, they were needlessly dragged into a conflict that was not their doing,” Mr Marape added.

The rift comes as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began a visit on Monday to Papua New Guinea, Australia’s nearest neighbor. Albanese and Marape will commemorate strong defence ties between the two countries by walking part of a pivotal battle ground known as the Kokoda Track later this week.

“I’m very confident that PNG has no stronger partner than Australia and our defense and security ties have never been stronger,” Mr Albanese told reporters before departing Australia.

The US Embassy in Port Moresby did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.

Mr Marape’s statement was released on the same day he