Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has expressed "concern" over China's ban of four New Zealand MPs from its shores.
Earlier today, 1News reported National's Maureen Pugh, Labour's Duncan Webb, ACT's Laura McClure and NZ First's David Wilson were banned from entering China, Hong Kong, and Macau, due to joining a trip to Taiwan in May.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters signalled officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to discuss the matter with the Chinese system, and express concern at the "departure from best practice to better understand it".
This evening, ABC reported Wong said Australian officials "would also make representations on this".
"We agree with the principle expressed by New Zealand that members of parliament, including the Australian parliament, are free to make their own decisions about travel," Wong said.
Peters said earlier today: "New Zealand MPs have visited Taiwan for decades and such visits are not inconsistent with New Zealand’s One China policy."
New Zealand had long officially recognised the "One China Policy" which dictated Taiwan as part of China's territory, but that did not mean New Zealand accepted that position.
'Whoever crosses the red line... will face consequences'
A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand said the visit by the MPs had disregarded the "Chinese side's serious concerns, resolute opposition, and repeated prior warnings".
"Whoever crosses the red line on the Taiwan question will face the consequences," the spokesperson said.
"During the visit, they met with several high-ranking local political figures, and their remarks and actions were reported by local media, causing serious adverse political impacts and sending the wrong signals to the Democratic Progressive Party regime and the 'Taiwan independence' forces."
"The actions of these MPs violate the one-China principle and constitute interference in China's internal affairs."
National's Maureen Pugh, Labour's Duncan Webb, ACT's Laura McClure and NZ First's David Wilson visited in May. (Source: 1News)
MP: 'Upper end of what I would have thought reasonable'
Speaking to 1News, Labour MP Duncan Webb said: "We were warned before we left it would make China unhappy."
"Tensions are rising. So I suppose some response is to be expected but that's kind of the upper end of what I would have thought reasonable," Webb said.
The Chinese Embassy earlier said the sanctions may be suspended or cancelled if any of the MPs involved apologised.
But some of the MPs said they would not be apologising over the matter, and defended the visit.
ACT MP Laura McClure said: "It's incredible to go out and talk to some of our other Pacific cousins, and find out what they are doing whether that's in trade, whether that's in business and like I said that indigenous connection is really important.
"I will not be apologising for travelling to Taiwan, or travelling to anywhere else in the world. It's part of my job."
Webb had a similar message: "I'm not going to apologise for doing my job."
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