New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced Friday that his government plans to directly address what he called China’s “entirely inappropriate” decision to ban four legislators from Chinese territory following their visit to Taiwan.
Four New Zealand parliament members – Laura McClure, David Wilson, and Maureen Pugh from the centre-right coalition, plus Duncan Webb from the Labour party – spent five days in Taipei last month.
Following their trip, the Chinese embassy notified the legislators through an email from the Office of the Clerk that they were prohibited from entering China, Hong Kong and Macau for one year, according to parliamentary administration officials.
Speaking to reporters during his trip to Australia where he plans to meet with his counterpart Anthony Albanese, Luxon defended the lawmakers’ right to travel independently.
“We think it’s entirely inappropriate, the reaction that we’ve seen from the Chinese. We will raise that with them ourselves,” Luxon stated, emphasizing that the backbenchers were not acting as official government representatives in Taiwan and should be “free to see who they want to see.”
The diplomatic tension comes despite generally stable relations between New Zealand and China in recent years, with China serving as New Zealand’s top trading partner. However, Wellington has become increasingly vocal about Beijing’s growing presence in the Pacific region.
High-level officials from both nations have conducted numerous visits over the past three years, including Luxon’s own trip to China in 2025.
The dispute centers around Taiwan’s contested status, as China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not dismissed using military force to gain control of the island. Taiwan’s leadership disputes Beijing’s territorial claims.
A New Zealand parliament official confirmed Thursday that a meeting occurred with Chinese embassy representatives but declined to share specifics. Foreign Minister Winston Peters directed New Zealand diplomatic staff in both Beijing and Wellington to address the issue with Chinese officials.
Australia has indicated it will also express concerns through the Chinese embassy in Canberra and Beijing.
While Luxon appreciated Australia’s backing, he characterized the dispute as a “nation-to-nation” matter between New Zealand and China.
He indicated he would emphasize New Zealand’s “one China policy” stance, which recognizes Beijing as the legitimate government and acknowledges its Taiwan claims without formally endorsing them.
