Four Kiwi MPs banned from China for a year after Taiwan visit

A group of four MPs who visited Taiwan last month have been banned from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macau for a year.

National's Maureen Pugh, Labour's Duncan Webb, ACT's Laura McClure and NZ First's David Wilson were visiting in May as part of a cross-party Parliamentary group aiming to improve relations between New Zealand and Taiwan.

New Zealand officially recognised the "One China Policy" which dictated Taiwan as part of China's territory, but that does not mean NZ accepts that position.

Taiwan was self-governing and viewed itself as distinct from the mainland.

The Chinese Embassy said if any of the MPs involved apologised, the sanctions may be suspended or cancelled.

Speaking to Breakfast, McClure said she was "really surprised" by the sanction.

"It’s a long-standing tradition for members of parliament to travel to Taiwan," she said.

"I was really surprised to see this action from China."

McClure said there had been "no specific indication" given as to why their group was treated differently to previous visiting MPs.

She said Kiwis should be allowed to travel to any country as part of our sovereignty.

"I think it is an intimidation tactic, or a deterrent, to try and put off other or future members of parliament from travelling to Taiwan. Which is concerning because Taiwan is our eighth biggest export market.

"We have very close trade and cultural links to the indigenous people of Taiwan to Māori here in NZ and that relationship is really valuable and important to us."

She said it was "unsettling" to receive a ban from China simply for travelling to Taiwan, and said it was "certainly there to intimidate".

"I think putting pressure on members of parliament is really above and beyond what we would expect from a friend of ours," she added.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the NZ Herald there was a “longstanding practice of New Zealand Members of Parliament visiting Taiwan and such visits are not inconsistent with New Zealand’s One China policy”.

“In the New Zealand constitutional system, Members of Parliament do not represent the Government. They are independent and responsible to their constituents. It is up to MPs to make individual decisions about how they respond to invitations to travel in their capacity as MPs."