China has rejected allegations that it is conducting widespread espionage in New Zealand, dismissing claims in the country’s latest security assessment as a product of a Cold War mentality.
The Chinese embassy in Wellington said New Zealand’s annual security report had exaggerated and fabricated allegations of Chinese interference and threats. It also accused unnamed domestic and foreign forces of attempting to undermine relations between the two countries.
The allegations were contained in the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service’s Security Threat Environment 2026 assessment, released on Thursday. The report said China was the only country New Zealand had detected conducting espionage “at scale”.
The assessment also identified China as the most active foreign-interference actor in New Zealand. It warned that espionage and covert efforts by foreign governments to obtain sensitive technology, influence policy and gather information were becoming increasingly common.
China rejected the findings, saying allegations against the country either misrepresented normal exchanges and cooperation as espionage and interference or were completely unfounded.
The Chinese embassy said bilateral relations were based on mutual benefit and cooperation, contributing to trade, employment and people-to-people exchanges.
It also questioned the timing of the report, saying its release was “no coincidence” and suggesting that the assessment itself could have been influenced by foreign interference.
The embassy urged New Zealand to work with Beijing to strengthen political trust and practical cooperation.
China is New Zealand’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching record levels in recent years.
