According to The New Zealand Herald, China has banned four New Zealand Members of Parliament from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau for one year, after they took part in a cross-party parliamentary delegation to Taiwan in May this year.
The report said the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand had informed the New Zealand Parliament that the ban applies to ruling coalition MPs Laura McClure, David Wilson, and Maureen Pugh, as well as opposition Labour MP Duncan Webb.
Citing the embassy, the report said the MPs had ignored China’s opposition and warnings by insisting on visiting Taiwan and meeting local political figures, thereby sending “incorrect signals” to “Taiwan independence forces”, violating the One China principle and interfering in China’s internal affairs. As a result, entry restrictions were imposed. China also stated that the ban could be shortened or lifted if the MPs apologised for the visit.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters expressed concern over the matter. Through a spokesperson, he said New Zealand MPs have had a decades-long tradition of visiting Taiwan, and such visits do not violate New Zealand’s One China policy. The spokesperson added that it was surprising that China had, for the first time, imposed an entry ban on New Zealand MPs over a Taiwan visit.
Peters has instructed New Zealand diplomats in Beijing and locally to engage with Chinese counterparts, express concern over the decision, and seek further clarification.
Relations between China and New Zealand have remained broadly stable in recent years, with China still New Zealand’s largest trading partner. However, as China’s influence in the Pacific grows, Wellington has also increased its criticism of certain Chinese policies. Analysts say the latest development could add new diplomatic friction to an otherwise relatively stable bilateral relationship.
Commentary
As a democratic country, New Zealand upholds the principle that Members of Parliament have the right to independently carry out their duties and engage in international exchanges. Against this backdrop, China’s decision to impose an entry ban on MPs due to their visit to Taiwan raises questions about whether such measures are intended to influence the freedom of elected representatives and place undue pressure on the functioning of New Zealand’s democratic system.
Such actions can also be interpreted as a diplomatic signal reinforcing the “One China” stance, while further limiting or marginalising Taiwan’s international space. At the same time, they may lead some foreign politicians to think twice before visiting Taiwan, due to concerns over potential diplomatic or personal repercussions.