'Not appropriate': Australia hits out at China as New Zealand MPs banned
Australia will tell China the banning of four New Zealand politicians who travelled to Taiwan is “not appropriate”.
The New Zealand MPs – National Party’s Maureen Pugh, Labour’s Duncan Webb, NZ First’s David Wilson and ACT’s Laura McClure – visited Taiwan in early May as guests of the independent government.
Xi Jinping has been president of China since 2013. AP
They were part of an inter-parliamentary program that regularly visits Taiwan.
The clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives has confirmed the Chinese Embassy requested a meeting with staff.
It was revealed overnight that the group had been sanctioned.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters was surprised to learn Beijing has, for the first time, imposed a travel ban.
“New Zealand MPs have visited Taiwan for decades and such visits are not inconsistent with New Zealand’s One China policy,” a spokesperson from the minister’s office said.
“He has instructed (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) officials in Beijing and Wellington to discuss this matter with the Chinese system, in order to express concern at this departure from past practice and to better understand it.”
His counterpart in Australia, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, said she was concerned by the move and is working with New Zealand to raise the matter with China.
“Australian officials will also make representations on this, both in Beijing and Canberra, including our view that placing pressure on parliamentarians is not appropriate,” she told a Senate estimates hearing today.
“We agree with the principle expressed by New Zealand that members of parliament, including the Australian parliament, are free to make their own decisions about their travel independent of government.
“Travel by parliamentarians to Taiwan is a longstanding and appropriate practice and consistent with our one-China policy.”
Foreign Minister Penny Wong at a Senate hearing in Parliament House. 9News
The Coalition has offered its bipartisan support on the government’s position.
Australia also has delegations to Taiwan and recently had a group of both Labor and Coalition members travel to the island.
Wong confirmed that they have not been met with a similar ban.
China, whose position has long been that Taiwan is part of its territory, has not yet publicly commented on the matter.
But the sanctioning of four New Zealand MPs for their visit appears to be a first.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will be in Australia on Saturday for a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss economic, defence and security measures.
“Australia has no closer friend, neighbour and ally than New Zealand. Our relationship is built on a rich shared history and generations of cooperation,” Albanese said in a statement.
“As new challenges emerge, Australia and New Zealand will continue to work together to safeguard the economic prosperity and national security of both countries and the Pacific region.”
Australia has been trying to fend off China’s assertions in the Pacific region.
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