China issues travel ban on New Zealand MPs over visit to Taiwan

China has imposed a one‑year travel ban on four New Zealand Members of Parliament after they visited Taiwan, a move that Wellington has described as unprecedented and concerning.

The MPs were informed of the restriction when they returned from the May trip, according to New Zealand’s foreign ministry. Chinese officials said the ban could be lifted or reduced if the lawmakers issued an apology.

The visit has reignited diplomatic tensions between Beijing and Wellington, as China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory.

A spokesperson for New Zealand’s foreign ministry said the decision had surprised officials and noted that parliamentary visits to Taiwan have been a long‑standing practice. “New Zealand MPs have traveled to Taiwan for decades, and such visits do not contradict New Zealand’s One China policy,” the representative added.

China’s embassy in Wellington defended the ban, claiming the MPs had ignored “serious concerns” and sent “wrong signals” by engaging with Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

The ban has also affected other diplomatic plans: Taiwan’s President cancelled a trip to Eswatini because of an African airspace ban, and South Korea has imposed a travel ban on President Yoon amid a martial law investigation.

The Chinese government accused the lawmakers of interfering in its internal affairs, a charge that Taiwan and its allies have consistently denied.

The MPs subject to the ban are Maureen Pugh, David Wilson, Laura McClure, and Labour Party member Duncan Webb.

McClure described the ban as “a form of foreign interference” and said she would not apologize for her visit, affirming that MPs have the right to travel freely.

“I will not apologize for visiting Taiwan,” she said, expressing surprise and shock at the decision.

New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Winston Peters called on officials in both Beijing and Wellington to clarify what he called a deviation from established diplomatic norms.