Four NZ MPs banned from China for visiting Taiwan, Winston Peters instructs officials to 'express concern'

New Zealand officials have been directed to engage and "express concern" to their Chinese counterparts following an unusual travel ban handed down to four New Zealand MPs after they visited Taiwan.

Laura McClure of ACT, Maureen Pugh of National, Duncan Webb of Labour and David Wilson of NZ First went to Taiwan in May on a Parliamentary engagement trip, and have since faced a ban on going to China and Hong Kong for a year. 

A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Winston Peters said he 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.”

He said that was in the context of NZ maintaining its One China policy for over half a century, with NZ MPs visiting Taiwan for decades.

“Such visits are not inconsistent with New Zealand’s One China policy.”

No regrets

McClure had no regrets about visiting Taiwan.

"New Zealand is a sovereign democracy, and it is a long-standing practice for MPs across the political spectrum to engage with fellow democracies.

"The Chinese Embassy's demand for an apology is frankly insulting. ACT MPs do not take instructions from foreign governments, and I will not be apologising for doing my job."

Webb said he was made aware through Parliamentary Service that the Chinese Embassy "indicated that I am not welcome in China or its territories."

Webb said visits to Taiwan were important for maintaining trade, economic, cultural and indigenous ties.

"Open dialogue and the free exchange of views are essential to stability and mutual understanding in our region. I will continue to act in accordance with our values, including respect for democratic institutions, freedom of association, and the right to engage constructively with partners around the world," Webb said.

"If the cost of doing that is to be excluded from China for a year, I will pay that price."

Peters instructed officials in Beijing and Wellington to discuss the matter with their Chinese counterparts, “in order to express concern at this departure from past practice and to better understand it.”

“New Zealand Members of Parliament are free to make their own individual decisions, independent of the Government, about how they respond to invitations to travel overseas," said Peters.