Recently, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) released its report entitled "New Zealand's Security Threat Environment 2026." Steeped in Cold War mentality, the report once again fabricates and hypes the so-called "China interference" and "China threat" narratives. Its false allegations against China either smear normal exchanges and cooperation as so-called espionage or interference, or are entirely groundless and fabricated out of thin air. We firmly oppose this and will never accept it.
The China-New Zealand relationship is, in essence, one of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. In recent years, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral relations have made steady progress. Two-way trade has reached successive record highs, bringing substantial income and employment opportunities to the New Zealand people.
People-to-people exchanges have flourished, with tourist and international student numbers on a steady rise, deepening mutual understanding and the bond of friendship between our two peoples. The Chinese community in New Zealand has played a unique, important and positive role throughout this process. Since China's implementation of unilateral visa-free policy for New Zealand, a growing number of New Zealanders have visited China and witnessed firsthand its development achievements, openness and inclusiveness. As a result, the New Zealand public has come to know China in a more comprehensive and objective light, and goodwill toward China as well as support for China-New Zealand relations continues to grow.
That this report is released at this particular juncture is no coincidence — it forms part of a new wave of attacks, slander and vilification against China orchestrated by certain international forces, and may well itself be a product of foreign interference.
It also reflects the reluctance of certain forces, both within and outside New Zealand, to see the sound development of China-New Zealand relations. By resorting to every possible means to fabricate disinformation, they seek to drive a wedge between our two peoples, create a chilling effect on the public including the Chinese community, undermine bilateral mutual trust, and obstruct the growth of the relationship — all in service of their own geopolitical agendas and the narrow, short-sighted political interests of a few. Clear-eyed observers will easily see through such schemes, which are bound to fail.
Our message to those forces and individuals attempting political machinations is this: do not sacrifice the hard-won, mutually beneficial China-New Zealand relationship for selfish gain, and do not act against the interests of New Zealand and its people. Serving as a pawn for anti-China forces will ultimately backfire. Manufacturing distractions in foreign relations will not solve New Zealand's own problems — it will only prove counterproductive. We urge these forces and individuals not to quench their thirst with poison, and not to lift a rock only to drop it on their own feet.
China values its relationship with New Zealand. We stand ready to work with the New Zealand side, on the basis of the consensus reached between the leaders of our two countries, to advance exchanges and cooperation across the fields of political mutual trust, practical cooperation and people-to-people ties, for the greater benefit of both peoples.
That said, the development of China-New Zealand relations is not up to China's efforts alone. We hope the New Zealand side will work in the same direction as China, rather than the opposite. Should it fail to do so, the responsibility for any consequences that may arise will not rest with the Chinese side.