The Ministry of State Security of China has strongly condemned New Zealand for hyping the narrative of a "Chinese intelligence threat" and mistreating Chinese people in the country.

In a statement released on Thursday, the ministry urged New Zealand to adopt a rational and objective stance on China, prioritize its own long-term interests and avoid straying further from historical and moral correctness.

The ministry emphasized that sowing discord between China and New Zealand — whether driven by speculation, hidden motives or external influences — will not resolve New Zealand's issues but will undermine its national interests and bilateral relations.

In early September, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service released an annual report asserting that China "remains a complex intelligence concern in New Zealand".

The report claimed that China engages in foreign interference activities targeting New Zealand's Chinese communities, using "complex and deceptive" front organizations to influence local groups and manipulate community perspectives.

This report has reportedly led to instances of harassment against Chinese people in New Zealand by those claiming to be "New Zealand intelligence personnel".

In response to these incidents, the Chinese Embassy in New Zealand lodged a formal complaint with local authorities on Sept 19, condemning the mistreatment of Chinese expatriates and calling for an immediate halt to such actions.

The embassy reiterated that the Chinese government encourages its expatriates in New Zealand to abide by local laws and integrate into mainstream society.

The Ministry of State Security criticized New Zealand for fabricating false information about China, particularly regarding the so-called Chinese intelligence threat.

In August 2023, the NZSIS first released the report on New Zealand's security threat environment, accusing China of "interfering in the internal affairs of other countries".

Additionally, from 2023 to 2024, New Zealand repeatedly stirred up the so-called Chinese intelligence threat without providing substantive evidence, even fabricating so-called Chinese spy cases.

The ministry described these baseless accusations as reflective of New Zealand's ideological biases and Cold War mentality, which diverges from the spirit of cooperation agreed upon by both nations and hinders the development of healthy bilateral relations.

As a member of the "Five Eyes Alliance", known for its extensive surveillance and intelligence-gathering activities, New Zealand has participated in operations that the ministry claims include cyber espionage against China. It cited documents from the "PRISM" project, alleging that New Zealand collaborated with the US National Security Agency in hacking operations against the Chinese Consulate in Auckland in 2013.