Biden's unsettling 'cannibalism' comments trigger backlash in Papua New Guinea

US President Joe Biden caused controversy in Papua New Guinea after suggesting that his uncle may have been eaten by cannibals during World War II. This has put a strain on US relations with the Pacific nation, prompting a strong reaction from its leader.

During a visit to a war memorial last week, Biden made controversial comments about his uncle Ambrose Finnegan. He implied that the US was unable to retrieve Finnegan's remains after his plane crashed near the island of New Guinea during the war. Biden mentioned that the region was known for having cannibals at that time, which may have hindered the recovery efforts.

In a statement released on Monday, Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea acknowledged that Biden might have made a mistake in his speech. However, he strongly disagreed with the idea that cannibalism is practiced in the Pacific Island nation, which includes the eastern half of New Guinea and over 600 nearby islands.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at United Steel Workers headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 17, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks at United Steel Workers headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., April 17, 2024. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

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Biden says military unable to recover uncle’s remains during WWII because ‘there used to be a lot of cannibals’ in New Guinea

Marape said that President Biden's comments may have been a mistake, but he believes that his country should not be unfairly labeled. In the mid-20th century, there were reports of cannibalism among isolated tribes in the region. However, Papua New Guinea has been working hard to overcome stereotypes in recent years. Biden's remarks faced criticism from people within the country.

One comment on social platform X defended PNG, stating that the country should not be labeled as cannibals due to its past history. The commenter emphasized that PNG is a part of modern civilization.

Another user on social platform X, from PNG's capital Port Moresby, questioned the previous comment, calling it utter rubbish.

In a recent Facebook post, PNG Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko expressed concerns about the impact of Biden's comments on the relationship between the two countries. Tkatchenko highlighted that the relationship between PNG and the US has been growing stronger, especially as Washington competes with Beijing in the Pacific region.

Tkatchenko described Biden's comments as "untrue" and stated that they are a setback for the bilateral relations between the two countries.

Thousands of soldiers, including approximately 7,000 Americans, lost their lives in New Guinea during intense battles in World War II. The Australian War Memorial reports that many of their remains have yet to be found.

In his statement on Monday, Marape asked for the United States' assistance in locating the bodies of those who died in the war.

Marape expressed that World War II was not caused by his people, but they were drawn into a conflict that was not of their making.

President Biden, please investigate clearing up the WWII remains to bring closure for families like Ambrose Finnegan's.

The US Embassy in PNG responded to Biden's remarks by emphasizing respect for the people and culture of Papua New Guinea, and the commitment to strengthening the relationship between our nations.

"President Biden shared his uncle's story to emphasize the importance of honoring our promise to support those who serve in the military," according to a statement from the embassy.

The U.S. Embassy Port Moresby and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency are committed to finding and bringing back the remains of WWII soldiers in Papua New Guinea.

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CNN fact-checks Biden's misleading claims from the campaign trail

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What Biden said

Biden made the controversial remarks on April 17 following his visit to a war memorial in Pennsylvania.

"He got shot down in an area where there were a lot of cannibals in New Guinea at the time. They never recovered his body," he said of his uncle.

Biden later blamed cannibalism more directly in a speech that same day. He claimed that Finnegan "got shot down in New Guinea, and they never found the body because there used to be a lot of cannibals in that part of New Guinea."

The President's recount of his uncle's passing does not match the account provided by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting agency. According to the agency, Finnegan's plane, an A-20 Havoc, was on a courier flight to New Guinea when it was "forced to ditch in the ocean" off the island's coast for reasons that remain unknown.

Biden's remarks were shared almost a year after he had to cancel his planned visit to Papua New Guinea, which would have been the first by a sitting US President. This cancellation was due to negotiations on the debt ceiling taking place back home.

When asked about the remarks, the White House did not repeat Biden’s assertions about cannibals or his uncle’s plane being shot down.

CNN’s Donald Judd and Daniel Dale contributed reporting.

Editor's P/S:

President Biden's comments about cannibalism in Papua New Guinea have reignited a sensitive issue for the Pacific nation. While Biden may have intended to emphasize the sacrifices made by his uncle during World War II, his remarks have been met with strong reactions from Papua New Guinea's leaders and citizens. The country has been working hard to overcome stereotypes and the perception of cannibalism, which was prevalent in isolated tribes in the past. Biden's comments have cast a shadow over these efforts, and it remains to be seen how the two countries will move forward from this diplomatic incident.

It is important to note that the allegations of cannibalism made by Biden do not align with the findings of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which states that his uncle's plane was forced to ditch in the ocean due to unknown reasons. It is also worth considering that cannibalism is not a widespread practice in Papua New Guinea today, and the country has a rich and diverse culture that should not be defined by its past. It is hoped that both the US and Papua New Guinea can work together to address the concerns raised by Biden's comments and strengthen their bilateral relationship.