US Official Urges Papua New Guinea to Reject Chinese Security Deal

FILE - U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma speaks at an event in the East Room of the White House, in Washington, Sept. 13, 2023.

A senior U.S. state department official urged Papua New Guinea (PNG) to turn down China's offer of a potential security pact, warning the Pacific nation that any security guarantee with Beijing comes with consequences and costs.