MPs are allowed to visit Taiwan

1 News reports:

China’s embassy in New Zealand has expressed its “strong dissatisfaction” over a visit to Taiwan by a cross-parliamentary group of MPs.

A lengthy statement posted by the embassy accused the MPs of “wrongdoings” and that they “insisted on colluding with ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces” during their trip.

By meeting with Taiwan’s president, China said the visit sent a “gravely wrong signal” which was not in line with China-New Zealand relations.

China viewed the Taiwanese government as separatists and said the meeting was a violation of New Zealand’s commitment to the One China policy.

“The wrongdoings of relevant New Zealand MPs severely violate the solemn political commitments made by New Zealand to China when the two countries established diplomatic ties,” the spokesperson said.

China lodged “stern representations” with New Zealand in both Beijing and Wellington.

According to the Chinese embassy spokesperson, New Zealand responded that the MPs did not hold official positions in government, their trip to Taiwan was “private and individual,” and their “words and deeds do not represent the New Zealand Government.”

Taiwan is a democratic country, and it is good that MPs visit it. The agreement is that Ministers do not visit it as they are the Government, but MPs who are not Ministers are free to do so.