SLUG: breaking-asia-pacific-new-zealand-expels-chinese-diplomats-spy-june5-2026
New Zealand ordered three Chinese diplomats expelled from Wellington on Thursday in what it called a “flagrant breach of diplomatic protocol,” marking the most significant deterioration in Sino-New Zealand relations in more than a decade. The move follows revelations that Chinese intelligence officers cultivated a network of informers inside New Zealand’s parliament and public service, according to documents leaked to Stuff and The New Zealand Herald.
Prime Minister Christopher Hipkins told Parliament the espionage operation was “deeply troubling” and had compromised national security. He summoned China’s ambassador and gave the three named diplomats 72 hours to leave the country. New Zealand’s spy agency, the NZSIS, briefed the government last month after investigating the network for 18 months.
China’s foreign ministry called the expulsion “a malicious slander and political provocation” and said it would retaliate with “corresponding measures.” Chinese state media ran an editorial calling New Zealand “a pawn of the United States” and warning of “serious consequences for bilateral ties.”
The spy ring reportedly targeted at least four sitting New Zealand MPs, two former cabinet ministers, and officials in the defence and trade ministries. None of the MPs are accused of wrongdoing — they appear to have been targets of approach rather than participants.
The scandal lands at a difficult time for the Labour government ahead of an election year, with the opposition calling for a full independent inquiry. New Zealand’s Five Eyes partners — the US, UK, Canada, and Australia — were briefed on the findings and supported the expulsion decision.
Sources: Stuff (NZ), New Zealand Herald, RNZ, The Australian, Reuters, AP.
Written by Kenji Tanaka, Asia-Pacific Bureau Chief
Kenji Tanaka
Kenji Tanaka covers Asia Pacific security, technology, and geopolitics from Tokyo.