National list MP Jian Yang will retire from politics at the September 19 election.
He didn't provide a reason for stepping down, but said politics was "demanding" and he looked forward to spending more time with his family.
Yang made the announcement, having come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks for declining interviews with New Zealand media.
He made headlines in 2017 when Newsroom revealed he taught English to students in China so they could monitor communications and collect information, and attracted the interest of New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.
He didn’t mention in his CV a decade he spent in the People's Liberation Army-Air Force Engineering College or the Luoyang language institute run by China's equivalent of the United States National Security Agency. That agency, the Third Department, conducts spying activities for China.
Yang also helped National’s former leader, Simon Bridges, and foreign affairs spokesperson, Gerry Brownlee, meet one of the most powerful people in the Communist Party of China.
During a trip to China last year, the trio met Guo Shengkun - one of 25 people with a seat on the Central Politburo, which oversees the Party. Bridges was criticised for an interview he did with Chinese media during the visit, in which it sounded like he was singing off a Chinese government song sheet.
Yang said in a statement: “After careful consideration and talking to my wife and children, I have decided, that after serving three most rewarding terms in the National Party caucus, I will not stand in the 2020 General Election.
“Accordingly, I have informed the Party President that I should not be considered by the Regional list ranking committee of the Northern Region in its meeting tomorrow, hence my announcement today.
“I truly believe that New Zealand is a great country. I have been in New Zealand for 21 years, twelve years in academia and nine years in politics.
“I have been proud to be a part of what I think is a Caucus that is truly representative of the ethnic diversity that is modern New Zealand, and to have played my part as a Chinese New Zealander in the governance of our amazing country.
“Politics is demanding and I now look forward to spending more time with my wife and family. It has been a privilege to serve and after nine years it is also time for me to move on and encourage the younger generation to come forward.
“I am truly grateful for the unfailing support I have received from the Party, my colleagues and the wider Chinese community.
“It has been a great honour to represent the Chinese community as a National MP in Parliament. I am proud that I have been able to assist numerous Chinese constituents and enabled the Chinese community to better understand and participate in New Zealand’s open and democratic politics. And I will continue to support New Zealand’s hard-working Chinese community outside of caucus.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my work in Parliament. It has been a great privilege to be part of successful National Governments, led by Rt Hon Sir John Key and Rt Hon Sir Bill English and to have chaired two select committees. I wish Todd and the team all the best to win the election. New Zealand needs a National Government.
“As a Member of Parliament with Chinese heritage, I made my contribution to NZ-China relations. My trips to China with Prime Minister John Key, Ministers and colleagues are some highlights of my political career. I have witnessed the rapid growth of New Zealand’s trade with China and I am pleased to have played a role in it.
“I am proud to be a New Zealander, and a member of the National Party whom I will continue to support into the future.”
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