China has imposed a travel ban on four New Zealand lawmakers, barring them from entering the country for a year in retaliation for a visit they made to Taiwan. The move has drawn concern from both Wellington and Canberra, and has become the latest flashpoint in the delicate relationship between Beijing and democracies in the Asia-Pacific that maintain unofficial ties with Taiwan.
According to officials, Beijing's embassy in Wellington conveyed to the four politicians that they were banned from China, as well as from Hong Kong and Macau, for a period of one year. The decision was communicated directly to the lawmakers, formalizing a punishment that ties their ability to travel to one of the world's major powers to a single overseas trip they had taken.
The ban stems from a visit the lawmakers made to Taiwan last month. Chinese authorities accused the group of interfering in China's domestic affairs by travelling to the island, which Beijing claims as its own territory. The politicians had gone as part of a cross-party delegation, the kind of visit that New Zealand notes its lawmakers have been making to Taiwan for decades without incident.
Beijing has left the door open to reversing the measure, but only on its own terms. The ban could be rescinded, Chinese officials indicated, if the lawmakers were to apologize for having visited Taiwan. That condition effectively asks elected representatives to express regret for a trip they made in their capacity as members of parliament, something their governments have signalled they are unwilling to demand of them.
New Zealand has voiced concern over the barring of its four members of parliament, noting the long history of contact between its lawmakers and Taiwan. The episode places Wellington in a familiar but uncomfortable position, balancing its important economic relationship with China against the principle that its elected officials should be free to travel and engage abroad as they see fit.
Australia has weighed in firmly on New Zealand's side. Foreign Minister Penny Wong told a Senate hearing that Canberra was concerned by the bans and that Australian diplomats would raise the issue with their Chinese counterparts. She said Australia agreed with the principle that members of parliament are free to make their own decisions about their travel independent of government, adding that placing pressure on parliamentarians is not appropriate.
The show of support came as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held their annual leaders meeting. Asked about Australia backing New Zealand on the issue, Luxon said he appreciated the support, presenting it as another example of the two trans-Tasman neighbours working together where possible on the diplomatic challenges they share in the region.