New Zealand’s intelligence agency has accused China of engaging in espionage and foreign interference.
Despite Wellington’s historical cautious stance towards China to avoid upsetting its major trading partner, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service revealed that China’s growing “power” stems from strategic competition in the Asia-Pacific region, where Beijing seeks to surpass Washington and its Western allies.
The recently declassified “threat assessment” report by the agency, a rare move, highlights that Chinese intelligence agencies continuously monitor Chinese nationals who have settled in New Zealand.
The report also points out that “only a few countries are actively engaged in foreign interference against New Zealand, but some do so persistently with the potential to cause significant harm.”
New Zealand is part of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, alongside the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
This revelation comes amid past criticisms directed at Wellington for prioritizing its robust trade relations with China over security concerns shared by its allies.
By publicly releasing the report for the first time, New Zealand’s intelligence agency appears willing to take the risk of upsetting Beijing.
The report not only implicates China but also highlights espionage activities tied to the governments of Iran and Russia.
The report reveals that Iran was monitoring “dissident groups,” while Russian campaigns have aimed to spread misleading information to influence a small number of New Zealanders.
It further confirms that violent extremism, a major concern in New Zealand since the 2019 Christchurch mosque massacre, continues to be fueled by anti-government rhetoric propagated online.
“False and discredited information shapes pathways to violent extremism but also creates opportunities for foreign interference,” Andrew Hampton, the head of New Zealand’s intelligence agency, said.
