Wellington: A fresh diplomatic dispute has emerged between China and New Zealand after comments made by New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters about a Chinese born lawmaker triggered strong criticism at home and an official protest from Beijing. The incident has drawn attention not only because of the remarks themselves but also because it comes at a time when relations between the two countries are already under strain over broader political and security issues.
The controversy began during a debate in New Zealand's Parliament, where Green Party lawmaker Lawrence Xu Nan questioned the government's handling of matters related to the country's response to the COVID 19 pandemic. During the heated exchange, Peters told Xu Nan to "go back to your own country" and added that this was "a democracy unlike what you are used to." He also referred to the opposition lawmaker as a "loudmouth."
The remarks immediately sparked criticism from politicians, community leaders and members of the public, many of whom argued that they targeted Xu Nan's ethnic background rather than addressing his views. Xu Nan was born in Tianjin, China, but moved to New Zealand as a child and has spent most of his life in the country. He represents the Green Party in Parliament and is widely recognised as a New Zealand politician.
China reacted swiftly to the incident. The Chinese Embassy in Wellington confirmed that it had lodged a formal diplomatic protest with New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The embassy described Peters' comments as negative remarks about China and said they were harmful to the relationship between the two countries.
Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaolong also commented publicly on social media, saying that the statement reflected more on the person who made it than on its intended target. The embassy urged New Zealand to take steps that would promote mutual respect and strengthen ties between the two nations instead of creating unnecessary tension.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also distanced himself from the foreign minister's comments. According to local media reports, Luxon described the remarks as inappropriate and said they had attracted attention for the wrong reasons. However, he stopped short of announcing any disciplinary action against Peters.
Despite the criticism, Peters defended his comments and refused to apologise. His office said he had been informed about China's diplomatic protest but maintained that his remarks were made while defending New Zealand's democratic system. Peters later criticised those who condemned his words, dismissing them as overly sensitive and accusing some critics of supporting China's political position.
Lawrence Xu Nan responded by saying that Peters was attempting to distract the public from government issues by targeting immigrant communities. He stressed that he is a New Zealand citizen and an elected representative whose background should not be used to question his place in the country. Xu Nan said New Zealand's diversity is one of its strengths and warned against using race or ethnicity as a political tool.
The latest dispute comes at a delicate moment in relations between Wellington and Beijing. China remains New Zealand's largest trading partner, with billions of dollars worth of goods and services exchanged every year. Trade in agricultural products, tourism and education has made the relationship economically important for both countries.
However, political tensions have increased in recent years over issues including security in the Indo Pacific region, concerns about foreign influence and New Zealand's growing engagement with partners such as Australia, the United States and other Western allies.
Earlier this year, China imposed travel bans on four New Zealand lawmakers after they visited Taiwan, prompting Wellington to lodge its own diplomatic protest. Those disagreements had already added pressure to the relationship before the latest parliamentary dispute.
Analysts say the current controversy is unlikely to have an immediate impact on trade or economic cooperation, but it highlights how quickly domestic political debates can become international diplomatic issues. They note that both governments have strong reasons to avoid a deeper confrontation because of their long standing economic ties.
As of Thursday, China had not announced any further action beyond its formal diplomatic protest, while Peters continued to stand by his remarks. The incident is expected to remain a topic of debate in both countries as political leaders seek to balance domestic politics with the need to maintain stable international relations.