China rejects New Zealand spy allegations as false

China has vehemently denied allegations of conducting widespread espionage in New Zealand, dismissing the claims made in the country's latest security assessment as fabrications stemming from a "Cold War mentality." The Chinese embassy in Wellington issued a strong statement asserting that the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service's annual threat report "fabricates and hypes" accusations of Chinese interference.

The embassy further accused unnamed domestic and foreign entities of attempting to damage the relationship between the two nations. These allegations surfaced in the intelligence agency's Security Threat Environment 2026 assessment, released Thursday, which identified China as the sole country detected engaging in espionage "at scale" within New Zealand. The report also warned of increasing foreign state espionage and covert efforts to obtain sensitive technology and influence policy.

Beijing retorted that such "false allegations" either smear normal exchanges and cooperation or are entirely groundless. The embassy asserted that bilateral ties are built on "mutual benefit and win-win cooperation," which have historically yielded significant trade, job creation, and people-to-people exchanges. China suggested the timing of the report was deliberate and potentially influenced by foreign interference.

China, New Zealand's largest trading partner, urged Wellington to work collaboratively with Beijing to enhance political trust and practical cooperation. The two-way trade between the nations has reached record levels in recent years, underscoring the economic importance of their relationship.

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False allegations against China either smear normal exchanges and cooperation as so-called espionage or interference, or are entirely groundless and fabricated out of thin air.