China claims New Zealand’s spy report is product of foreign interference
China’s embassy in Wellington has rejected New Zealand’s latest security assessment as the product of “foreign interference” and a “Cold War mentality”, as tension grows in a relationship already strained by geopolitical and security concerns. The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service’s annual threat report identified China as the only country conducting espionage “at scale”. In the Thursday…
China's embassy in Wellington has dismissed New Zealand's latest security assessment as "foreign interference" and a "Cold War mentality," amid mounting tension between the two nations. The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service's annual threat report, published on Thursday, identified China as the primary country engaged in espionage "at scale."
Director General Andrew Hampton described the threat environment as "the most challenging of recent times," warning that espionage activities were expected to increase over the next year. The report also alleged that China was the most active in foreign interference within New Zealand. The Chinese embassy criticized the report, stating that it fabricates and exaggerates alleged "China interference" and "China threat" narratives, alleging that the allegations against China are either false or groundless.
The embassy further suggested that the report may be the result of foreign interference, coinciding with a new wave of attacks and slander against China orchestrated by external forces. The embassy emphasized that China-NZ relations are based on mutual benefit, noting that bilateral trade has brought significant income and employment to New Zealanders.
The embassy's strong rebuke comes after a series of recent tensions, including Beijing's July missile test in the South Pacific, Foreign Minister Winston Peters' controversial remarks towards a Chinese-born lawmaker, and growing security cooperation between Wellington and Manila. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon condemned Peters' remarks, but Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta refused to apologize as election campaigning intensified.
Tensions have also been heightened over Peters' push for a joint statement condemning China's missile test, which was met with resistance from several Pacific Island nations. The embassy urged New Zealand businesses to deepen economic cooperation with Chinese counterparts, particularly in agriculture and technology, as China prepares to host Apec 2026 in Shenzhen.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
