China Bans New Zealand MPs Over Taiwan Visit

China has banned four New Zealand lawmakers from entering the country after they visited Taiwan, accusing them of violating the one-China principle and interfering in its internal affairs. New Zealand said the visit was an independent parliamentary trip that did not breach its policy, as it maintains informal relations with Taiwan.

Beijing has announced that it is imposing an entry ban on four New Zealand parliamentarians, escalating diplomatic tensions over recent political engagement with Taiwan. The decision, confirmed on Thursday, follows accusations from China that the lawmakers interfered in its domestic affairs after visiting officials in Taiwan in May.
China maintains that the self-governing island of Taiwan is part of its territory and strongly opposes any official exchanges between Taiwan and foreign political representatives. The Chinese government views such visits as violations of its “one-China principle,” which asserts that there is only one China and that Taiwan is not a separate sovereign state.
According to the announcement, the four New Zealand lawmakers are now barred from entering Beijing. Chinese authorities said the decision was taken in response to what they described as repeated warnings that were ignored by the MPs when they proceeded with their visit to Taiwan. During that trip, the lawmakers reportedly met with Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim.
The Chinese Embassy in Wellington defended the move, saying the parliamentarians’ actions directly violated the one-China principle and amounted to interference in China’s internal affairs. A spokesperson further warned that “whoever crosses the red line on the Taiwan question will face the consequences,” signalling that similar measures could be taken against other foreign politicians in the future if they engage with Taiwan in ways Beijing considers official or political recognition.
The embassy also indicated that the ban could potentially be lifted if the lawmakers issue a formal apology, suggesting that the restriction is reversible depending on future diplomatic conduct.
In response, the office of New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated that the MPs’ visit did not violate the government’s official position regarding Taiwan. Wellington emphasized that although it does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, individual members of parliament are free to make their own travel decisions, including attending overseas invitations, as long as they do not represent official government policy.
New Zealand’s foreign ministry also reiterated that its lack of formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan does not prevent the country from continuing trade, cultural, economic, and indigenous exchanges with the island. Officials stressed that such interactions are consistent with New Zealand’s long-standing one-China policy, which allows for unofficial relations while maintaining formal recognition of Beijing.
The ministry also noted that visits by New Zealand parliamentarians to Taiwan are not new, pointing out that such exchanges have occurred for decades without previously resulting in sanctions of this nature. It added that the current situation marks the first time New Zealand lawmakers have been directly targeted with sanctions by China over Taiwan-related visits.
Taiwan’s foreign ministry strongly condemned Beijing’s decision, arguing that China has no authority to interfere in Taiwan’s international relations or restrict its engagement with foreign representatives. Taipei described the sanctions as unjustified and reaffirmed its right to maintain and expand international partnerships.
The lawmakers involved belong to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan, which was established in March 2023 to strengthen informal ties and promote cooperation between New Zealand and Taiwan. Chinese officials had expressed concern about the group from its inception and warned against any official-level engagement.
The diplomatic dispute comes at a time of heightened international scrutiny of China’s global influence operations. The issue has also coincided with warnings issued by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which includes Five Eyes alliance and which recently highlighted concerns about alleged Chinese efforts to recruit individuals through online platforms for intelligence purposes.
Beijing has repeatedly rejected such allegations, describing them as unfounded and politically motivated accusations aimed at damaging China’s international reputation.