Australians officials told Taiwan travel still ‘appropriate’ after Beijing ban on four New Zealand MPs

Australia will raise concerns in Beijing and the Chinese Embassy in Canberra over China’s recent ban on four New Zealand MPs following their recent cross-party delegation to Taiwan.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Thursday said she shared the concerns expressed by Kiwi counterpart Winston Peters over Beijing’s sanctions.

The China ban has extended to National’s Maureen Pugh, Labour’s Duncan Webb, ACT’s Laura McClure and NZ First’s David Wilson after their five-day visit to the democratic island in May.

Senator Wong said parliamentarians should have freedom to make their own travel decisions and insisted it was still “appropriate” for officials to travel to Taiwan.

“We believe that the practice of parliamentarians continuing to travel to Taiwan is an appropriate practice,” she said at a Senate Estimates hearing on Thursday.

“Australia supports a statement made from the Office of Minister Peters, and we add Australia’s concern over these developments.

“Australian officials will also make representations on this, both in Beijing and Canberra, including our view that placing pressure on parliamentarians is not appropriate.

“Members of parliament, including the Australian Parliament, are free to make their own decisions about their travel, independent of government.

“It is a long-standing practice for members of parliament to engage in travel to Taiwan.

“Parliamentarians from both sides of politics have done so regularly, and this is consistent with our one-China policy.”

Under Australia’s one-China policy, Australia maintains informal political connections with Taiwan but does not recognise it as a sovereign country.

The Kiwi delegation in May focused on an economic and cultural exchange through the 2023-launched parliamentary group “All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan”.

It’s understood the sanctions were initially received via email to NZ Parliament’s Office of the Clerk, who then held a meeting with the Chinese embassy, which has since said they could drop the ban if members apologise.

Senator Paterson offered Senator Wong the Coalition’s bipartisan support for Australia’s position after she read a short statement to the Senate committee.

“Can I associate the Opposition with those remarks and offer our bipartisan support for that position. I think that’s a very important statement,” he said.

It’s not the first time Beijing has lashed out at New Zealand and Australian officials over previous Taiwan visits and meetings with Taiwanese officials.

In 2023, China’s ambassador Xiao Qian warned Australian MPs to think carefully before travelling to the island China claims as its own.

It came after a bipartisan group of Australian parliamentarians, which included Labor MP Josh Wilson and Coalition frontbencher Paul Fletcher, travelled to Taipei to promote co-operation.

A similar visit last year by New Zealand MPs was also criticised by the Chinese Embassy as violating the “solemn political commitments made by New Zealand to China”.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor described the sanctions as “very concerning” on Thursday.

“This should not happen and I’m sure Parliamentarians and others around Australia want reassurance from this Government that it’s not going to happen here,” Mr Taylor said.

Australia’s most recent cross-party delegation to Taiwan was held last month and included Senator Carol Brown, Dan Tehan MP, Senator Anne Ruston, Senator Helen Polley, Jason Wood MP, Leon Rebello MP, and Senator Josh Dolega.