Weapon or wine bottle? China disputes reports of artillery shell in Papua New Guinea

Chinese authorities have dismissed reports that a suspected China-made artillery shell was found in a commercial shipping container in Papua New Guinea, saying it is a "shell-shaped wine bottle".

"It poses no danger at all," the Chinese embassy wrote in a Facebook post on Tuesday, drawing skeptical comments.

Police in Port Moresby arrested four Chinese nationals last Friday after the 32kg object was found at a construction site in the capital city.

Authorities were looking into whether it was a live device, local reports said then, with police commissioner David Manning describing it as "a very concerning discovery".

In a report on Wednesday, the Australia Broadcasting Corporation cited unnamed sources identifying the object as an undetonated 130mm Chinese Type 59 Artillery Projectile that contains chemical explosives and a fuse.