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🇸🇬 Singapore /Elections & Politics

China protests NZ minister's 'loudmouth' jibe at lawmaker

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • China's embassy in New Zealand lodged a diplomatic protest over remarks made by Foreign Minister Winston Peters about a Chinese-born lawmaker.
  • Peters called the lawmaker a "loudmouth" and told them to "go back to your own country" during a parliamentary debate.
  • The Chinese embassy urged New Zealand to take actions conducive to bilateral relations, while Peters defended his comments as protecting New Zealand's democracy.

China has formally protested to New Zealand after Foreign Minister Winston Peters referred to a Chinese-born lawmaker as a "loudmouth" and suggested they "go back to your own country." The remarks were made during a parliamentary debate on the government's COVID-19 response.

A statement says more about the person that makes it than anything or anybody else.

— Wang XiaolongChinese ambassador to New Zealand, writing on X.

Ambassador Wang Xiaolong stated on X that such comments reflect more on the speaker than the subject. The Chinese embassy confirmed lodging a "solemn representation" with New Zealand's foreign affairs ministry regarding "negative China-related remarks."

Lawrence Xu-Nan, the lawmaker in question and a member of the Green Party, was born in Tianjin, China, but grew up in New Zealand. He told TVNZ that Peters was scapegoating migrant communities to divert attention from the government's performance.

Go back to where you've come from, you loudmouth.

— Winston PetersAddressing lawmaker Lawrence Xu-Nan during a parliamentary debate.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon reportedly criticized Peters' comments as "inappropriate attention-seeking." However, Peters doubled down, labeling his critics as "pearl-clutchers" and "communist shills." His ministry stated Peters stood by his remarks, framing them as a defense of New Zealand's democracy.

This is called a democracy, unlike what you're used to.

— Winston PetersAddressing lawmaker Lawrence Xu-Nan during a parliamentary debate.

This diplomatic spat occurs against the backdrop of a significant economic relationship, with China being New Zealand's largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding NZ$41 billion in the year ending September 2025.

inappropriate attention-seeking comments

— Christopher LuxonPrime Minister of New Zealand, reportedly criticizing Peters' remarks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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