Australia Backs New Zealand after China Sanctions Four MPs Over Taiwan Visit

Australia has backed New Zealand after China imposed sanctions on four New Zealand MPs who travelled to Taiwan, banning them from visiting China, Hong Kong, and Macau for a year.

The MPs, ACT party’s Laura McClure, NZ First’s David Wilson, Labour’s Duncan Webb, and National’s Maureen Pugh, visited Taiwan in May. After they returned, they were informed by the Chinese Embassy in Wellington that they would be barred from entering China unless they issued an apology, which none have done.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the government would raise the matter with Beijing, describing the move as a “departure from past practice.”

A spokesperson for Peters said MPs travel to Taiwan in a private or parliamentary capacity rather than as official state representatives, and such visits have occurred for decades without being considered a breach of New Zealand’s “One China” policy.

New Zealand has maintained that policy since 1972, under which it recognises Beijing’s position on Taiwan while allowing unofficial relations with the island, including parliamentary visits.

“In the context of that long history, the minister was surprised to learn that China has taken a decision to, for the first time, impose travel bans on New Zealand MPs as a result of travel to Taiwan,” the spokesperson told the Epoch Times.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Canberra supported New Zealand’s position and had also raised concerns with Chinese counterparts.

“Australian officials will also make representations on this, both in Beijing and Canberra,” she told a Senates estimates hearing.

China has long objected to official visits to Taiwan, which it considers part of its territory. However, the sanctions are believed to be the first time Beijing has escalated to formal travel bans on New Zealand parliamentarians over such visits.

Long-running Tensions

The dispute comes amid ongoing tensions between China and Australia over political engagement with Taiwan.

Beijing warned Australia in 2022 that it was “playing with fire” after a cross-party delegation of six MPs visited Taiwan.

More recently, senior Chinese official Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee and a close ally of CCP leader Xi Jinping, asked Australia to respect Beijing’s claims over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

“Taiwan Province, Hong Kong, Xizang, Xinjiang, the South China Sea, and other issues are related to China’s territorial sovereignty and core interests,” said an official statement by the CCP’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time.

New Zealand’ Speaker Gerry Brownlee described the decision as “a bit disappointing.”

“New Zealand MPs are elected as free and unencumbered individuals. They are free to make their own choices about where they travel,” Brownlee said.

“I find it a bit disappointing that the Chinese system doesn’t respect our political system and recognise that MPs make their own choices.”