The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand announced on the evening of the 16th that it had filed a complaint with the New Zealand government saying that Chinese people were being "harassed" at New Zealand airports.
China accuses New Zealand of harassing its citizens at airports. China’s embassy in Wellington says it lodged a ‘serious representation’ with the government over “unwarranted conduct and harassment” by security and intelligence personnel.
The Chinese embassy demanded that “such wrongful acts cease immediately” and “a safe, fair, and non-discriminatory environment be provided for the Chinese students, tourists, and other travellers” entering or transiting through New Zealand, according to the statement.
China has accused New Zealand of harassing its citizens by subjecting them to unjustified seizures of electronic devices and interrogations at the country’s borders.
The embassy said, a Chinese citizen transiting at a New Zealand airport was recently interrogated “without cause” and had his personal digital devices confiscated, some of which were not returned, the embassy said in a statement on social media.
The incident followed several reported cases of Chinese citizens experiencing “similar harassment during entry or transit in New Zealand”, the embassy said.
It also asked citizens to immediately contact the embassy if they face any harassment, discrimination or infringement of their rights.
“The Chinese Embassy and Consulates-General in New Zealand remind all Chinese students, tourists and other travellers planning to visit, transit through New Zealand, or [who are] currently in the country to remain vigilant and take necessary preparations before entering or exiting New Zealand.”
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS), the country’s main agency for human intelligence, said its operations are carried out in accordance with the law and are subject to robust oversight.
“When we engage with individuals as part of any operational activity, this is done professionally and in accordance with our mandate and legal authorities,” the intelligence agency said in a statement.
The NZSIS added that it has a longstanding policy of not discussing “what may or may not be specific areas of operational focus, or individuals”.
Worth noting here, in an intelligence report released on August 20, New Zealand's Security Intelligence Service emphasised that New Zealand is facing its most serious state security threat in recent years, particularly noting that the threat from China is intensifying daily.
The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand had firmly rejected and strongly opposed the August released report by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service that claimed there are threats from China.
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS), the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) are aware of the Chinese Embassy complaint as per a report.
