Bougainville wants independence. China's support for a controversial mine could pave the way

Bougainville, an autonomous archipelago currently part of Papua New Guinea, is determined to become the world's newest country. To support this process, it's offering foreign investors access to a long-shuttered copper and gold mine. Formerly owned by the Australian company Rio Tinto, the Panguna mine caused displacement and severe environmental damage when it operated between 1972 and 1989. It also sparked a decade-long civil war from 1988 to 1998 that killed an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 civilians and caused enduring traumas and divisions. Industry players believe 5.3 million tonnes of copper and 547 tonnes of gold remain at the site….