China has strongly refuted recent allegations by New Zealand's Security Intelligence Service (SIS) that Beijing is intensifying espionage operations within the country. The embassy in Wellington characterized the claims as 'groundless' and part of a broader campaign of 'attacks, slander, and vilification' against China. The SIS annual report, released this week, warned of espionage being conducted 'at scale' by China, including attempts to recruit individuals with access to state secrets.
A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy criticized the SIS for mischaracterizing normal exchanges and cooperation as espionage. The embassy emphasized that these allegations reflect a reluctance by certain forces to see the progress of China-New Zealand relations. This condemnation comes shortly after the embassy lodged a formal complaint over remarks made by New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters to a Chinese-born lawmaker.
The SIS report highlighted a specific incident involving the Chinese military-linked Purple Mountain Observatory's attempt to covertly install Ground Based Space Infrastructure (GBSI) in New Zealand. The local company involved was unaware that the equipment could collect intelligence of military value. The SIS noted this was not the first such attempt and likely would not be the last.
The embassy urged unnamed forces in New Zealand not to engage in actions that would harm bilateral relations. It warned against serving as pawns for anti-China forces, cautioning them against damaging their own interests. While the SIS report did not name the local company involved in the GBSI attempt, it warned that such incidents are part of a larger pattern.
The escalating tensions between China and New Zealand highlight the ongoing challenges in managing espionage threats in the Asia-Pacific region, with broader implications for international relations and security.
