New Zealand is set to raise concerns with China after four of its lawmakers were denied entry to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau following their recent visit to Taiwan. These restrictions apply to members from both the ruling coalition and the opposition parties, who traveled to Taiwan last month. New Zealand officials emphasized that such parliamentary visits to Taiwan have been a regular occurrence for decades, aligning with the country’s established One China policy.
A spokesperson for New Zealand’s Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, expressed surprise at China’s decision and noted that diplomatic officials have been directed to seek an explanation from Beijing. The spokesperson also conveyed New Zealand’s concerns regarding the travel ban. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s foreign ministry has condemned the restrictions, labeling them as retaliatory. The ministry argued that China does not have the authority to interfere with interactions between Taiwan and foreign legislators, highlighting that parliamentary diplomacy is a common practice among democratic nations.
In defense of their decision, Chinese officials stated that they oppose visits to Taiwan by lawmakers from countries that uphold diplomatic relations with Beijing. They emphasized that lawmakers are not ordinary citizens, and such visits are seen as conflicting with China’s stance on Taiwan.
This development introduces a new layer of tension to the otherwise stable relations between New Zealand and China. Despite maintaining robust trade ties, the two countries have experienced growing disagreements over regional security and issues related to Taiwan.