Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape, has taken offence in a statement credited to President Joe Biden, disparaging the South Pacific island nation by implying that an uncle of his was eaten by “cannibals” during World War II.

Last week, Mr Biden spoke at a Pennsylvania war memorial about his Army Air Corps aviator uncle, Ambrose J. Finnegan Jr., whom he claimed was shot down over Papua New Guinea. 

“They never found the body (Finnegan) because there used to be – there were a lot of cannibals for real in that part of New Guinea,” he said.

Mr Biden’s comment offended a key strategic ally as China moved to increase its influence in the region.

But on Sunday, the prime minister said 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 labelled as such. World War II was not the doing of my people; however, they were needlessly dragged into a conflict that was not their doing,” he was quoted in a press statement published by the AP. 

The unsatisfied comments came as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese began a visit to Papua New Guinea, the nearest neighbour country on Monday. 

In a swift defence, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the U.S. President was speaking to the bravery of his uncle and the many U.S. service members who put their lives on the line.

“He takes this very seriously. His uncle, who served and protected this country, lost his life serving. And that should matter,” Ms Jean-Pierre noted.

Mr Biden’s account that Finnegan’s plane was shot down was not supported by military records.

However, a Pentagon report stated that Mr Finnegan was a passenger on a Douglas A-20 Havoc transport plane that crashed into the ocean after both engines failed on May 14, 1944.

Only a crew member survived but no trace was found of the plane or three other people on board, including Finnegan.

Mr Marape called on the U.S. to find its war dead in Papua New Guinea’s jungles and to clean up the wreckage of war.

He explained that the remains of WWII lie scattered over PNG, including the plane that carried Mr Biden’s uncle.

“Perhaps, given President Biden’s comments and the strong reaction from PNG and other parts of the world, it is time for the USA to find as many remains of World War II in PNG as possible, including those of servicemen who lost their lives like Ambrose Finnegan.

“The theatres of war in PNG and Solomon Islands are many, and littered with the remains of WWII including human remains, plane wrecks, shipwrecks, tunnels and bombs. Our people daily live with the fear of being killed by detonated bombs of WWII,” he said.