The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand lodged solemn representations with New Zealand over the harassment of overseas Chinese in New Zealand
On September 19, 2023, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand took to its official WeChat account to address a troubling situation involving Chinese expatriates in the country. Just a day earlier, on September 18, embassy officials expressed significant concerns to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade after reports emerged of individuals posing as “New Zealand intelligence personnel” who were allegedly harassing and intimidating newly arrived Chinese nationals.
During the statement, an embassy representative highlighted that since the release of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service’s annual report outlining the nation’s security threats, there has been a notable uptick in harassment incidents targeting Chinese expatriates by these supposed intelligence agents. The representative condemned such actions as egregious and unfair, asserting that they are completely unacceptable. The embassy urged New Zealand authorities to put an immediate stop to this behavior.
The official also affirmed China’s commitment to encouraging its expatriates to respect local laws and actively engage with the broader community, contributing positively to New Zealand’s economic and social fabric while promoting friendly cooperation between the two nations. They pointed out that the expatriates’ support for China’s peaceful reunification efforts aligns with New Zealand’s one-China policy and is both reasonable and lawful. The representative insisted that the legal rights of Chinese nationals deserve respect and protection, asserting that New Zealand should cultivate an equitable and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese nationals and students in all aspects of their lives, including work and study.
Furthermore, the embassy representative emphasized China’s intention to closely monitor the situation, stating that the nation reserves the right to take further diplomatic action if necessary.
