Biden's Remarks About Cannibalism in Papua New Guinea Spark Outrage

U.S. President Joe Biden's comments suggesting his uncle Ambrose Finnegan was eaten by cannibals after his plane crashed in New Guinea during World War II have sparked outrage in Papua New Guinea. Biden twice hinted that the U.S. was unable to recover Finnegan's remains because there used to be a lot of cannibals in the region.

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister James Marape acknowledged that Biden may have misspoken, but pushed back against the characterization of cannibalism in the country. While cannibalism was documented among remote tribes in the region in the mid-20th century, Papua New Guinea has struggled to shed such stereotypes in recent decades.

Biden's remarks were criticized within Papua New Guinea, with the country's Foreign Minister warning the "uninformed remarks" could undermine relations between the two countries, which have deepened in recent years as Washington seeks to counter China's influence in the Pacific. One social media user in Papua New Guinea called Biden's comments "utter rubbish."

The U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea said the country respects the people and culture of Papua New Guinea and remains committed to respectful relations. However, Biden's account of his uncle's death differs from the official record, which says Finnegan's plane was forced to ditch in the ocean off the coast of New Guinea for unknown reasons, not that it was shot down.

Why this matters: Biden's controversial remarks have strained relations between the U.S. and Papua New Guinea at a time when Washington is vying for influence with Beijing in the Pacific region. The incident highlights the importance of cultural sensitivity and accurate historical understanding in diplomatic relations.

Prime Minister Marape called on the U.S. to find the remains of its war dead in Papua New Guinea's jungles and clean up the wreckage of war, noting that the country still lives with the fear of unexploded World War II bombs. "World War II was not the doing of the Papua New Guinean people, who were needlessly dragged into a conflict that was not their doing," Marape said, emphasizing that Biden's remarks were offensive to the nation.

Key Takeaways

• Biden's remarks about his uncle being eaten by cannibals in PNG sparked outrage.
• PNG PM rejected Biden's claims, noting cannibalism stereotypes persist despite decline.
• Biden's account differs from official record, straining US-PNG relations amid China rivalry.
• PNG called on US to find war dead, clean up WWII wreckage, as conflict wasn't their doing.
• Incident highlights importance of cultural sensitivity in diplomacy, accurate historical understanding.