international
China bans four New Zealand MPs over Taiwan visit
Key takeaways
- The MPs learned of the ban - which the Chinese Embassy said could be reduced or waived with an apology - when they returned from the trip in May, local media reported on Thursday.
- China claims the self-governed island of Taiwan as its territory, and has tried to restrict the island's foreign engagements.
- But this is the first time China has imposed travel bans on New Zealand MPs for visiting Taiwan - a move that "surprised" foreign minister Winston Peters, a ministry spokesperson said in a statement to the BBC.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Koh Ewe Lin Chia-lung/Facebook The New Zealand lawmakers travelled to Taiwan in May, where they met Taiwan's foreign minister Lin Chia-lung (L)In a first, China has banned four New Zealand Members of Parliament for a year over their visit to Taiwan, New Zealand's foreign ministry says.
The MPs learned of the ban - which the Chinese Embassy said could be reduced or waived with an apology - when they returned from the trip in May, local media reported on Thursday.
China claims the self-governed island of Taiwan as its territory, and has tried to restrict the island's foreign engagements.
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