New Zealand lawmaker Laura McClure has called on the government to raise concerns with China over a recently enacted law that she says could have implications for residents in free democracies, including New Zealand.
The "ethnic unity and progress promotion law" came into effect in China on July 25. Among its provisions, the legislation allows Chinese authorities to hold individuals and organisations outside its borders legally accountable for actions deemed to undermine ethnic unity or to incite ethnic separatism.
As a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, McClure expressed worries that Beijing may use the law to extend its influence and intimidate communities overseas, including the Chinese diaspora in New Zealand. She plans to contact Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters directly to encourage diplomatic engagement with Chinese officials about the law’s potential impact.
“This law suggests that Beijing believes it can reach beyond its borders and potentially intimidate or punish people living in free democracies like New Zealand or Australia or Canada,” McClure said. She emphasised the need to ensure that Chinese or diaspora communities in New Zealand do not feel threatened or coerced.
The Australian government has already communicated its concerns to Beijing, highlighting the international unease surrounding the law’s extraterritorial scope. New Zealand’s domestic intelligence agency, the Security Intelligence Service (SIS), has previously reported incidents of foreign interference and intimidation linked to Chinese government activities within New Zealand.
McClure pointed to reports of some groups in the country feeling unable to freely participate in protests or attend events related to Taiwan without fear of intimidation. She urged the New Zealand government to clearly assert the nation’s sovereignty and commitment to protecting the rights and freedoms of all residents, regardless of their origin.
“It’s important that we address this issue diplomatically with China so there is no escalation in such behaviour,” McClure said, adding that dialogue between New Zealand and Chinese officials is crucial to clarifying the law’s implications.
The legislation and New Zealand’s response come amid wider international scrutiny of China’s efforts to influence diaspora communities abroad and assert control over perceived dissent in foreign countries.