Latest news with #ChineseEmbassy
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
China hits back at FBI director's 'groundless assertions' in Wellington
The Chinese Embassy building in Wellington. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER China says it strongly opposes any "groundless assertions" after comments made by the head of the FBI at its new office in Wellington. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation is opening a dedicated attaché office in the capital to investigate threats, including terrorism, cyber crime, money laundering and child exploitation. Director Kash Patel also said it would counter China's influence in the Pacific. Kash Patel during his visit to Parliament. Photo: Supplied/OLA THORSEN The Chinese Embassy hit back, saying it took note of the comments and described them as part of a "Cold War mentality". "Transnational crime is a common challenge encountered by all countries requiring cooperation to tackle," a spokesperson said. "On the opening of a new FBI office in Wellington with a permanent Legat (legal attaché) position, we have taken note of the assertions by the American side, as well as the remarks by relevant New Zealand ministers in response to the media. "We believe that relevant cooperation should not target any third party. And we strongly oppose any attempt to make groundless assertions or vilification against China out of the Cold War mentality. Such acts are against people's will and are doomed to fail." The government has pushed back on suggestions that the FBI's new office in Wellington aimed to counter China. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said China was not raised in his meeting with Patel, and the minister responsible for the spy agencies GCSB and NZSIS, Judith Collins, said it was up to Patel what he wanted to say. "When we were talking, we never had raised that issue," Peters said. "We talked about the Pacific, what we could do to improve the law and order situation and the great concern that Pacific countries had and that they needed help, and that we need to be part of the solution." Collins said the US was "very focused on fentanyl" and knew New Zealand was focused on disrupting the methamphetamine trade . "We know that we do have international criminals ... let's just understand that our security agency is also involved in this. We're not going to single out any particular country." University of Otago lecturer Dr Peter Grace said drug and human trafficking was "spiralling out of control" in the region, and New Zealand had limited resources to fight it. "New Zealand is a small state, and we just don't have the kind of resources that are going to help solve these problems… So the fact that you've got somebody with much deeper pockets coming down and cooperating can be a particularly good thing." Opposition parties expressed surprise at the announcement, Labour saying it had come without explanation and Greens saying the office should not exist and New Zealand should exit the Five Eyes arrangement altogether. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
South China Morning Post
18 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China's Tokyo embassy sounds alarm after 2 citizens attacked in Japan
The Chinese embassy in Tokyo has issued a security alert after two Chinese nationals were wounded in an attack in the Japanese capital on Thursday. Four unidentified men armed with iron pipes attacked two Chinese men as they were walking in Tokyo's Kanda district at around 9am, according to Japanese media reports. The two victims sustained head wounds but their condition was not life-threatening. Police were searching for the attackers, who were believed to be in their 20s and reportedly not known to the Chinese men before the incident. The victims said the suspects did not make any demands for money or valuables. The Chinese embassy said it immediately contacted the injured individuals and visited the police station in the area, urging Japanese authorities to take swift action to apprehend the suspects. 'In response to the recent xenophobic sentiments in Japanese society, the embassy has lodged a solemn representation with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, demanding concrete measures to be taken by the Japanese side in terms of protecting the safety and legitimate rights of Chinese citizens in Japan,' it said. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the ministry had promptly conveyed concerns to the Japanese authorities and was working to understand the situation.
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Trump says tariffs talks with China ‘moving along well'
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that talks with China on a tariff deal were 'moving along well' and that both countries would reach a 'fair' deal on trade, without offering additional details of the long-awaited agreement. Advertisement 'We're moving along with China. We're doing fine with China,' Trump told reporters at the White House. 'I think it's going to work out very well. We're right in step … I think we're going to have a very fair deal with China,' he added. Trump's latest comment came a day after delegations from both countries finished a third round of high-level talks in Sweden, ahead of an August 12 expiration of a pause on additional tariffs that the world's two largest economies slapped on each others' goods. Beijing and Washington had been expected to extend their tariff truce another three months, sources on both sides told the South China Morning Post before discussions began on Monday. The Chinese embassy in Washington has not responded to a request for comment. This month it noted that China's exports to the US declined by 24 per cent year on year in the second quarter of 2025, with the situation 'equivalent to the first quarter of 2020 when the economy activity was stagnant' during the pandemic. 02:07 China, US finish Stockholm trade talks with divergence on timing of tariff pause extension China, US finish Stockholm trade talks with divergence on timing of tariff pause extension At separate press briefings on Tuesday in Stockholm, US and Chinese negotiators, while calling their discussions 'constructive', diverged on the timing of the fresh tariff pause.
South China Morning Post
24-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
China slams US envoy nominee for framing Argentina as a great power ‘battlefield'
China has issued a sharp rebuke to comments made by Peter Lamelas, the US ambassador-designate to Argentina, saying they reflected a 'Cold War mentality' after he accused Beijing of fostering corruption and being a malign influence across Latin America. At his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Lamelas said he intended to travel across Argentine provinces to monitor agreements involving Chinese companies, which he claimed 'could lend themselves to corruption'. On Thursday, the Chinese embassy in Buenos Aires condemned the remarks, warning that such rhetoric risked turning Argentina into 'a battlefield for great power confrontation'. The statement also accused Lamelas of ideological prejudice and criticised what it described as an outdated foreign policy reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine. During the hearing, Lamelas – a Cuban-born doctor and Republican donor with no prior diplomatic experience – grouped China with Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Iran, saying these governments were working to undermine democratic values in the region. He identified limiting their influence as a key objective if confirmed to the post. The hearing also drew swift political responses in Argentina. Several provincial governors denounced the comments as interference in domestic affairs. Buenos Aires Governor Axel Kicillof said that Lamelas would not be welcome in the province, while opposition lawmakers presented a resolution urging the government to reject the nomination altogether.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China denies link to espionage group accused of attacking Singapore critical infrastructure
SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The Chinese embassy in Singapore refuted claims that an espionage group accused of performing cyberattacks on Singapore's critical infrastructure was linked to China. In a Facebook post published over the weekend, the Chinese embassy said such claims were "groundless smears and accusations". "The embassy would like to reiterate that China is firmly against and cracks down all forms of cyberattacks in accordance with law. China does not encourage, support or condone hacking activities," it wrote on Saturday. Last Friday, a Singapore minister said the espionage group UNC3886 was "going after high value strategic threat targets, vital infrastructure that delivers essential services" but did not give details of the attacks. The minister did not link the group to China but Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant has described UNC3886 as a "China-nexus espionage group" that has attacked defence, technology and telecommunications organisations in the United States and Asia. Beijing routinely denies any allegations of cyberespionage, and says it opposes all forms of cyberattacks and is in fact a victim of such threats. Singapore's critical infrastructure sectors include energy, water, banking, finance, healthcare, transport, government, communication, media, as well as security and emergency services, according to the country's cyber agency.
