Members of the Chinese community in New Zealand are asking the government for a public inquiry into China’s interference in New Zealand and the Pacific. They express feeling unsafe in their own country. The New Zealand Values Alliance, which advocates for democracy among Chinese New Zealanders, sent a letter to the prime minister highlighting serious worries about China’s influence on local politics.
The letter mentions that China uses “united front” groups to meddle in elections through campaign donations and has inserted “pro-China MPs” into the political system. It also talks about reports of a secret police station in New Zealand that monitors dissidents and groups that use violence and intimidation.
The letter states, “It is important to hold a full and public inquiry into this situation. New Zealand must address these security risks to protect its people and national security.” The group started a petition for this inquiry, referencing a recent report by the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS), which indicated that China is a major source of foreign interference.
The petition claims that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) targets the Chinese community in New Zealand, local political figures, and media. They feel their freedom of speech and association is not the same as for other citizens. A member named Freeman Yu stressed that the interference is real, and supporters of democracy in the Chinese community do not feel safe.
Yu also noted that there are nationalists and CCP supporters in the Chinese community who are causing concern. Chen Weijian, another member of the Values Alliance, warned that the CCP’s influence in New Zealand is serious and needs to be addressed.
The Chinese Embassy rejected the NZSIS report, calling it false and a fabrication, and claimed that New Zealand intelligence officials are harassing its community. NZSIS responded that they are working professionally to protect all communities in New Zealand. Recently, it was revealed that compromised New Zealand devices are part of a global network linked to a Chinese firm associated with the CCP, and Chinese officials called these accusations unfair.
-360x245.jpg)
