China’s embassy in New Zealand has lodged a formal complaint with Wellington over what it described as the “harassment” of Chinese citizens at airports, including the confiscation of electronic devices from a transiting traveller.
In a statement posted on its website on Tuesday, the embassy accused New Zealand security and intelligence officials of subjecting one Chinese citizen to “harassment and interrogation without cause,” adding that some of the confiscated digital devices were not returned.
“The embassy of China in New Zealand has lodged a serious representation with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and deplores the unwarranted conduct and harassment,” the statement read.
The protest marks a rare public dispute in otherwise steady relations between Beijing and Wellington, which have generally remained stable in recent years. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon visited China earlier this year to reinforce trade and diplomatic ties.
Responding to the complaint, New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said all passengers transiting or entering the country are required to comply with its border and security laws.
“These laws and regulations are applied in a non-discriminatory manner, regardless of country of origin,” a ministry spokesman said in a statement, without commenting on specific cases.
The incident adds a layer of tension to a relationship that has largely avoided the sharper frictions seen between Beijing and some of New Zealand’s Western partners.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
