Peters falls foul of China

China has warned New Zealand to stay out of its business after Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters criticised its new security law.

It comes as governments in the United Kingdom and Australia are considering giving Hong Kong citizens safe haven, with Peters not ruling out the same consideration here.

On Wednesday, Peters expressed his “deep disappointment” in the new legislation which criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces in Hong Kong.

It also essentially shuts down protest action and freedom of speech. Hundreds have been arrested since its introduction on Tuesday.

Peters said it was “a critical moment for fundamental human rights and freedoms protected in Hong Kong for generations” and that New Zealand had “serious concern” about the legislation.

“We share the international community’s stake in preserving the high degree of autonomy and freedom available to Hong Kong and its people under the ‘ one country, two systems’ framework.”

The city was handed back to China from British control in 1997 with the framework which made it autonomous.

The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand said “we firmly oppose any external interference in Hong Kong affairs”.

“We urge the New Zealand side to respect China’s sovereignty, abide by international laws and basic norms of international relations, stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs, and do more to promote the sound and steady development of the ChinaNew Zealand relations.”

It said the national security legislation fell within the responsibility of the central Chinese government and was “a fundamental solution for Hong Kong to restore order, end chaos and resume stability”.

Peters rejected this and said “we’re not interfering with anyone’s affairs” and the embassy had not contacted him or his department.

Peters said Cabinet hadn’t considered a safe haven proposal but didn’t rule it out in the future.