China has strongly criticized New Zealand’s top intelligence official after he warned about growing security risks from Beijing’s influence in the Pacific. The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand accused the spy chief of spreading “false information” and making baseless claims.
The intelligence official had recently spoken about China’s increasing presence in the Pacific region. He stated that Beijing was forming agreements with small island nations that linked economic cooperation with security matters. This, he warned, could pose risks of foreign interference and espionage.
China, however, dismissed these concerns as completely untrue. In a statement, the Chinese Embassy said the accusations were fabricated and based on outdated Cold War thinking. The embassy urged New Zealand’s intelligence agencies to avoid misleading the public and to stop seeing China as a threat.
Disagreements Over Pacific Diplomacy
In recent years, China has been strengthening its ties with several Pacific Island nations, much to the concern of countries like New Zealand. As a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance—which also includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada—New Zealand keeps a close watch on foreign influence in the region.
The issue has gained more attention recently after a small Pacific country with close ties to New Zealand signed a strategic partnership deal with China. The nation’s leader traveled to China in February and signed agreements with Chinese officials without consulting Wellington. This upset officials, who expected more transparency in such international dealings.
China defended the agreement, insisting that there was nothing secret about it. The Chinese Embassy pointed out that all cooperation documents had been made public and denied claims that China had a hidden agenda. According to Beijing, its relationships with Pacific nations are based on mutual respect and economic progress, not security threats.
A Growing Divide Between China and New Zealand
The clash between China and New Zealand highlights a growing divide over how to handle influence in the Pacific. While Wellington sees China’s expanding reach as a potential security risk, China argues that it is simply working towards economic growth in the region.
China’s embassy in Wellington also represents its interests in two other Pacific nations, handling diplomatic relations beyond New Zealand itself. Beijing insists that its activities in the region are transparent and do not pose any danger to other countries.
New Zealand’s concerns, however, reflect a broader worry among Western nations that China is using economic deals to gain a stronger foothold in the Pacific. Intelligence officials believe that these partnerships could eventually lead to deeper security ties, shifting the balance of power in the region.
The debate over China’s influence in the Pacific is unlikely to end soon. As China continues to build relationships in the region, tensions between Beijing and Western nations, including New Zealand, remain high.
