China has imposed its first-ever travel bans on New Zealand lawmakers after they visited Taiwan, escalating Beijing’s efforts to isolate Taipei and deter foreign governments from engaging with the self-ruled democracy. The one-year ban covers entry to mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and targets Laura McClure, David Wilson, and Maureen Pugh, all from the ruling centre-right coalition, as well as opposition Labour MP Duncan Webb.
Beijing’s embassy in Wellington accused the cross-party delegation of violating the one-China principle after they met with Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim in May. “Whoever crosses the red line on the Taiwan question will face the consequences,” an embassy spokesperson warned.
Wellington Pushes Back
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said lawmakers had visited Taiwan for decades without incident, and stressed that such visits were not inconsistent with Wellington’s One China policy. He directed diplomats in both Wellington and Beijing to raise concerns with Chinese officials over what he called a departure from past practice.
The Chinese embassy told New Zealand parliament officials it would reduce or waive the ban if the politicians apologised for the trip. Banned MP Laura McClure flatly rejected that condition. “It’s not exactly clear what we would be apologising for,” she told RNZ. “If it is just for travelling to Taiwan, I personally will not be apologising.” She also described the ban as “a type of foreign interference,” adding: “New Zealand is sovereign, and members of parliament have the right to travel freely around the globe.”
Labor MP Duncan Webb confirmed the embassy had warned the lawmakers before their departure, saying, “With the increasing tensions I suppose a response wasn’t surprising, but I think it is disappointing.”
Regional Reaction
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong told a Senate hearing that Canberra was “concerned” by the bans and would raise the matter with Chinese counterparts. Taiwan’s foreign ministry, meanwhile, said it “strongly condemns” Beijing’s move, insisting China has no right to interfere in its international interactions.
China has previously imposed entry restrictions on politicians from Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Parliament over issues it regards as interference in its internal affairs. New Zealand lawmakers established the All Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan in March 2023 to strengthen ties with the island on trade, healthcare, and semiconductor technology, and the May visit was the group’s third since its founding.
