Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung In Photos Shared On May 6, 2026
Beijing: China has barred four New Zealand Members of Parliament from entering the country after they visited Taiwan as part of a cross-party delegation last month, prompting concern from both New Zealand and Australia.
The four lawmakers, who come from different political parties, travelled to Taiwan in May to hold discussions on issues including trade, healthcare and semiconductor technology.
Their visit was organised by New Zealand’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan, which was established in 2023 to strengthen parliamentary engagement with the self-ruled island.
China considers Taiwan a part of its territory and strongly opposes official exchanges between Taiwan and foreign governments or lawmakers. Beijing has repeatedly warned countries against actions that it believes challenge its “One China” principle.
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New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed that China had imposed entry bans on the four MPs.
His office said the government had instructed diplomats to raise concerns with Chinese authorities and seek clarification regarding the decision. Officials noted that New Zealand parliamentarians have been visiting Taiwan for decades and that such visits are not inconsistent with the country’s long-standing One China policy.
While New Zealand does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, Wellington continues to engage with the island through trade, economic, cultural and educational exchanges.
The foreign ministry stressed that these interactions are fully consistent with New Zealand’s official policy towards China and Taiwan.
The issue has also drawn attention in neighbouring Australia. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Canberra was concerned by the bans and indicated that Australian diplomats would raise the matter with Chinese officials.
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Taiwan’s foreign ministry strongly criticised China’s decision, saying Beijing has no right to interfere in Taiwan’s international exchanges. Taiwanese officials noted that the New Zealand delegation met several senior leaders during the visit, including Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim.
One of the banned lawmakers, Laura McClure, described the move as an attempt to intimidate elected representatives. She said New Zealand is a sovereign country and that members of parliament have the right to travel and engage with international partners.
McClure also rejected reports that the ban could be lifted if the MPs apologised for their visit, stating that she had nothing to apologise for.
Another member of the delegation, Labour MP Duncan Webb, said the group had been warned by the Chinese Embassy before travelling that they could face consequences if they proceeded with the visit. While he was not surprised by Beijing’s response, he described the decision as disappointing.
(With inputs from agencies)
