Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has condemned China’s decision to bar four New Zealand MPs from entering the country, describing the move as “entirely inappropriate” while welcoming support from Australia.
Speaking during a visit to Queensland, Luxon said the MPs’ recent trip to Taiwan was part of a long-standing parliamentary practice and did not represent the New Zealand Government.
He reaffirmed New Zealand’s one-China policy but stressed that elected representatives are free to meet whom they choose. While acknowledging Australia’s offer to raise concerns with Beijing, Luxon said the issue would ultimately be addressed directly between New Zealand and China, adding, “We’ll raise it with the Chinese directly ourselves.”
The Government has already instructed officials to formally convey its concerns to Chinese authorities.
Like China is going to take any notice. They have cities bigger than NZ and almost as large as Australia. If its known Taiwan is a sensitive point with them, why provoke a negative response with such a massive trade partner? To fall in line with the US’s position perhaps? They are finished, a lame duck, whose society is in tatters, with an economy is circling the drain…….Rome in its end days.
“MPs’ recent trip to Taiwan was part of a long-standing parliamentary practice and did not represent the New Zealand (Company) Government, but stressed that elected representatives are free to meet whom they choose”? (So, who were they representing if not the New Zealand Company government, Mr Luxon?)
Three of the four MPs are in the coalition government and all MP’s had been warned by the Chinese Embassy before the trip that it would result in a ban.
Parliament’s Speaker Gerry Brownlee told RNZ that MPs are elected as “free and unencumbered individuals”, they’re able to make their “own choices” about these matters and these four MPs were “not part” of the government and were probably just interested in the “relationship” between China and Taiwan? (So, were they spying on the taxpayers dime then Mr Brownlee?)
Be that as it may, China is the largest and most successful economy in the world. If those politicians took it upon themselves to provoke such a controversial issue, rather them go down than NZs free trade agreement with China. No other nation has this relationship.
If these politicians want to address human rights issues, there is plenty at home. Male suicide for one.
If Luxon wishes to make his position public rather that through diplomatic channels, he makes himself a candidate for the brotherhood of stupidity. Starr acting like a statesman Mr Luxon.