BEIJING, China — China has imposed a one-year travel ban on four New Zealand Members of Parliament following their visit to Taiwan, New Zealand’s foreign ministry has confirmed, marking an unprecedented move in relations between Beijing and Wellington.
The MPs were informed of the ban, which the Chinese Embassy said could be lifted or reduced if they issued an apology, after returning from their trip in May, according to local media reports.
The development is the first known instance of China sanctioning New Zealand parliamentarians over travel to Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as part of its territory.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the move had “surprised” Wellington, according to a ministry spokesperson cited by 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 said.
In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Wellington said the MPs had “disregarded China’s serious concerns” by proceeding with the visit.
It said the trip sent “wrong signals” to what it called “Taiwan independence forces” and amounted to “interference in China’s internal affairs”.
Beijing maintains that Taiwan is part of its sovereign territory and has repeatedly opposed official engagements between Taiwan and foreign lawmakers.
The delegation included lawmakers Maureen Pugh, David Wilson, Laura McClure, and opposition Labour MP Duncan Webb.
ACT Party MP Laura McClure described the ban as “a type of foreign interference” and said she would not apologise for the visit, according to the New Zealand Herald.
She told Radio New Zealand she was “quite surprised and shocked” by the decision, noting that similar parliamentary visits had taken place for years.
“New Zealand MPs have the right to travel freely around the globe,” she said, adding that this was “part of living in a free democracy.”
Wellington has instructed officials in both Beijing and New Zealand to seek clarification over what it described as a departure from established diplomatic practice.
New Zealand established formal diplomatic relations with China in 1972 and maintains a One China policy, recognising Beijing diplomatically while continuing informal ties with Taiwan.
While Wellington does not have official relations with Taipei, it has maintained regular parliamentary and economic exchanges with the island.
The move adds to a pattern of growing diplomatic friction between China and Western lawmakers over visits to Taiwan.
In recent years, Beijing has imposed sanctions on foreign officials from the United States and other countries who have engaged with Taiwan’s leadership, including former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2022.
China has also repeatedly criticised foreign parliamentary delegations visiting Taiwan, describing such engagements as encouragement for “separatist forces”.
Taiwan, which has increasingly sought international engagement amid rising pressure from Beijing, has welcomed such visits as signs of democratic solidarity.
Taiwanese officials have previously accused China of attempting to restrict its diplomatic space and international participation.
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Last year, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te met New Zealand MPs during a visit, a move that also drew criticism from Beijing.
The dispute comes amid broader tensions over Taiwan’s international status and China’s growing assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.
While most countries, including New Zealand, adhere to the One China policy, many also maintain unofficial relations with Taipei, a balance that continues to fuel diplomatic friction with Beijing.
As both sides trade accusations, the latest episode underscores the increasingly sensitive nature of parliamentary diplomacy in the region.
