Foreign Minister Penny Wong has responded carefully to questions about an extraordinary story across the ditch in New Zealand.
Four NZ MPs — National’s Maureen Pugh, Labour’s Duncan Webb, NZ First’s David Wilson and ACT’s Laura McClure — all visited the democratically ruled island in May as part of a cross-parliamentary group which makes regular trips to Taiwan.
China hasn’t made any public pronouncements about the trip, but late yesterday, news broke that China’s embassy had complained to New Zealand’s parliament and said the four MPS would now be denied entry to China, Hong Kong and Macau for a year.
On the face of it, that looks like a (basically) unprecedented move by Beijing.
MPs from multiple countries make regular “unofficial” visits to Taiwan and, with one or two exceptions, never face sanctions from China.
The Australian foreign minister and DFAT officials fielded multiple questions about the story from Shadow Defence Minister James Paterson in Senate estimates hearing this morning.
Australian MPs regularly visit Taiwan. In fact, a group travelled there just six weeks ago, but DFAT officials confirmed they had not been hit with any sanctions.
Wong said it was “appropriate” for MPs to make these visits, and that they would continue.
But wouldn’t comment on the New Zealand travel ban, saying she wanted to consult with her New Zealand counterpart, Winston Peters, before wading in.
