New Zealand’s Biggest Diplomatic Meltdown With China in Years

Описание: WATCH MY NEWLY RELEASED DOCUMENTARY ON XINJIANG HERE:    • DEBUNKING XINJIANG PT.1: I visited Kashgar...  

This week, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters triggered a major diplomatic row with China after telling Chinese-born Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan to “go back to your own country” during a heated parliamentary debate. Peters also claimed Xu-Nan was used to a system that “lies like a flatfish,” contrasting it with New Zealand’s democracy.

The remarks quickly escalated beyond domestic politics. China’s ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, issued a rare public criticism on social media. The Chinese embassy then lodged a formal complaint with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning publicly addressed the “negative remarks,” calling for respect and warning against using China for domestic political purposes.

Inside New Zealand, the backlash has been intense. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark and other senior figures have demanded Peters’ sacking, describing the comments as racist and damaging to social cohesion and foreign relations. Peters has refused to apologise, dismissing critics as “pearl clutchers” and “communist shills.”

Despite the international outrage and domestic pressure, Peters is unlikely to lose his job. With an election approaching, his NZ First party remains a crucial coalition partner for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Sacking Peters would risk collapsing the government. The incident highlights the tension between populist politics and New Zealand’s vital economic relationship with China.

#china #newzealand #diplomacy