China Imposes Travel Ban on 4 New Zealand Lawmakers Over Taiwan Visit

(MENAFN) China has imposed a one-year travel ban on four New Zealand Members of Parliament following their participation in a cross-party delegation to Taiwan last month, marking what officials described as an unprecedented diplomatic move targeting the country's legislators.

The ban, which blocks entry into mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, affects National's Maureen Pugh, Labour's Duncan Webb, ACT's Laura McClure, and NZ First's David Wilson. Parliament's clerk delivered the notification to all four MPs, according to a media report published Thursday.

The Chinese Embassy indicated the penalties could be eased or withdrawn if the affected lawmakers issued a formal apology.

Wellington pushed back firmly. The New Zealand Foreign Ministry clarified that the MPs had traveled to Taiwan in a personal capacity and were not acting as government representatives. The Ministry also reaffirmed that New Zealand would press ahead with "trade, economic, cultural and indigenous exchanges" with Taiwan in the interest of its citizens.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters directed officials to formally raise the matter with their Chinese counterparts. A spokesperson for Peters said the minister was caught off guard by Beijing's decision, calling it a first in the history of New Zealand-China relations.

"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 said.

The spokesperson further underscored New Zealand's longstanding diplomatic position, adding: "New Zealand has maintained its One China policy for over half a century. New Zealand MPs have visited Taiwan for decades and such visits are not inconsistent with New Zealand's One China policy."

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