China Bans Four New Zealand MPs Following Taiwan Visit
China has, for the first time, imposed a one-year travel ban on four New Zealand Members of Parliament due to their recent visit to Taiwan, according to New Zealand's foreign ministry.
The MPs were informed of the ban upon their return from the trip in May, with local media reporting on Thursday that the Chinese Embassy indicated the ban could be reduced or waived if an apology was issued.
China regards Taiwan, a self-governed island, as part of its territory and has consistently sought to limit Taiwan's international engagements.
This marks the first occasion that China has enacted travel restrictions on New Zealand MPs for visiting Taiwan, a development described as "surprising" by New Zealand's foreign minister Winston Peters, according to a ministry spokesperson speaking to the BBC.
"New Zealand MPs have visited Taiwan for decades and such visits are not inconsistent with New Zealand's One China policy,"
the spokesperson stated.
The delegation in May included members from the ruling coalition—Maureen Pugh, David Wilson, and Laura McClure—as well as Duncan Webb from the opposition Labour Party.
Laura McClure, representing the ACT party, characterized the travel ban as "a type of foreign interference" and declared she would "not going to apologise for visiting Taiwan," as reported by the New Zealand Herald.
Speaking to Radio New Zealand, McClure expressed that she was "quite surprised and shocked" by the ban, noting that similar visits had occurred for many years without issue.
"New Zealand MPs have the right to travel freely around the globe."
"That is part of living in a free democracy,"
she added.
New Zealand Government Response
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has directed officials in both Beijing and Wellington to engage with Chinese authorities to "better understand" this "departure from past practice," a ministry spokesperson confirmed.
New Zealand's Diplomatic Position and Historical Context
New Zealand established formal diplomatic relations with Beijing in 1972 and adheres to the One China policy, which acknowledges China's stance that there is only one Chinese government. Consequently, New Zealand maintains official diplomatic ties solely with Beijing, not Taipei.
Nonetheless, New Zealand, like many other nations, has sustained regular exchanges with Taiwan.
Last year, a delegation of New Zealand MPs met with Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te during a visit to Taiwan. The Chinese embassy in New Zealand criticized the delegation, accusing them of "colluding with 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces."
China also condemned New Zealand lawmakers who attended a reception hosted by Taiwan's de facto embassy in Wellington in October of the previous year.
Taiwan's Perspective and Related Diplomatic Incidents
Taiwan has accused China of attempting to interfere in its diplomatic relations with other countries.
In a recent example, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te visited Eswatini—Taiwan's sole diplomatic ally in Africa—last month, shortly after his government announced the cancellation of a trip due to Chinese pressure on African nations to deny him overflight rights.
The Eswatini visit was referenced by Taiwan's foreign minister Lin Chia-lung in a social media post regarding the New Zealand delegation's visit.
"President Lai's recent visit to Eswatini has once again made the world feel the challenges facing Taiwan's diplomacy,"
Lin wrote on Facebook.
"The visit by the New Zealand MPs not only showed the support of the New Zealand Parliament for Taiwan, but also made the friendship between Taiwan and New Zealand stronger."
China's Previous Sanctions on Foreign Lawmakers Visiting Taiwan
China has previously sanctioned United States lawmakers for visits to Taiwan, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2022.
In 2023, China sanctioned US Representative Michael McCaul, asserting that his visit to Taiwan sent a "serious wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces."
