Speaker calls China’s ban of MPs ‘disappointing’

Thursday, 4 June 2026

Speaker Gerry Brownlee says the decision by China to ban four MPs for visiting Taiwan is “a bit disappointing”.

The backbench MPs have been banned from visiting China for a year after a trip to the disputed nation of Taiwan, unless they apologise for the visit.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) has stressed that the trip does not breach New Zealand’s “One China Policy” - which officially acknowledges China considers Taiwan to be part of its territory - as the MPs are not part of the Government.

The four - Labour’s Duncan Webb, National’s Maureen Pugh, ACT’s Laura McClure, and NZ First’s David WIlson - took part in a five-day visit to Taiwan in May.

China did not publicise the ban but the Head of the Political Section at the Chinese Embassy in Wellington reached out to Parliament’s Office of the Clerk about it.

In an email seen by The Post the MPs were informed that if they apologised the one-year ban would be lifted.

Brownlee told The Post China could do what it liked, but it was disappointing.

“New Zealand MPs are elected as free and unencumbered individuals. They are free to make their own choices about where they travel,” Brownlee said.

“I find it a bit disappointing that the Chinese system doesn’t respect our political system and recognise that MPs make their own choices.”

MFAT: No breach of one-China policy

An MFAT statement shared by Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters’ office stressed that New Zealand’s One China Policy remained in place, as it applied to the Government - not MPs.

“While New Zealand does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, this does not preclude New Zealand from maintaining trade, economic, cultural and indigenous exchanges. We intend to continue these exchanges as they benefit the people of New Zealand and are entirely consistent with our One China policy,” the statement read.

“There is a long-standing 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.”

MPs unrepentant

Webb told The Post he was “disappointed but not surprised”.

“If a one-year ban from China is the price of doing my job I’ll pay it.”

He said China was not naive and was fully capable of understanding the distinction between a backbench MP and the Government.

“They would like to isolate Taiwan and bring pressure to bear on any influential person who gives them the time of day. They use that as a pretext. But they know that I and no backbench MP speaks for the Government of New Zealand.”

McClure said she had “no regrets” about visiting Taiwan and demands for an apology were “insulting”.

“New Zealand is a sovereign democracy, and it is a long-standing practice for MPs across the political spectrum to engage with fellow democracies,” McClure said.

“The Chinese Embassy's demand for an apology is frankly insulting. ACT MPs do not take instructions from foreign governments, and I will not be apologising for doing my job.”

The May visit was organised as part of the “All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan” a cross-party group launched in 2023.

A 2025 statement by the Chinese embassy expressed the one-China principle as “a universally recognised fundamental norm of international relations and a prevailing consensus of the international community”.

“It constitutes the political foundation upon which China has established and developed diplomatic relations with 183 countries, and represents a solemn political commitment made by New Zealand.

“We urge all countries, including New Zealand, to earnestly honour their one-China commitment, handle Taiwan-related matters with prudence, refrain from any form of official interactions with the Taiwan region, and send no erroneous signals to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces.”

Clarification: A reference to New Zealand’s One China Policy has been clarified. Story updated June 4, 9.26am.