China’s ambassador weighs in as Winston Peters tells Green MP to ‘go back to your own country’
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters faced backlash after telling a Chinese-born Green MP to 'go back to your own country' during a parliamentary debate. The Chinese ambassador responded by stating that such comments reflect more on the speaker than the target, while the MP accused Peters of using scapegoating as a political distraction.
Why it matters
The incident highlights tensions regarding race, immigration, and political decorum in New Zealand, drawing international attention from diplomatic partners.
NZ First leader Winston Peters told Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan to “go back to your own country”. Photo / RNZ
China’s ambassador has delivered a pointed response after Foreign Minister Winston Peters told a Chinese-born New Zealand MP to “go back to your own country” in Parliament.
In a social media post on Thursday, Ambassador Wang Xiaolong said New Zealand’s domestic politics were not China’s concern, but “sometimes, a statement says more about the person that makes it than anything or anybody else”.
Peters launched his attack during Parliament’s general debate on Wednesday after being heckled by Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan.
Xu-Nan interrupted Peters’ speech on the Covid-19 response, asking: “Are you vaccinated?”
Peters shot back, telling Xu-Nan to “go back to your own country”.
“That’s where they lie like a flatfish, but they don’t lie like that here, all right?” he said.
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