New Zealand FM in row with Beijing's envoy after telling Chinese-born lawmaker to 'go back to your own country'

Lead

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters is facing criticism after telling a Chinese-born lawmaker to 'go back to your own country' during a parliamentary debate. The comments, made during a debate on the government's Covid-19 pandemic record, prompted a rare response from Beijing's envoy in Wellington and has ignited a contentious debate about race relations and governance in the South Pacific nation.

The remarks were directed at Lawrence Xu-Nan, a Green Party member who was born in Tianjin and moved to New Zealand in 1994, according to Al Jazeera. Peters, who also leads the New Zealand First party, was asked by Xu-Nan, "Are you vaccinated?" during the session. Peters responded, "Go back to your own country," adding, "That's where they lie like a flatfish, but they don't lie like that here … This is called a democracy, unlike what you're used to."

Coverage comparison

The altercation has been covered by multiple news outlets, each providing its own context and framing. Al Jazeera described the incident as a 'backlash' against Peters, emphasizing the response from China urging New Zealand politicians not to invoke Beijing in domestic disputes. The outlet's reporting highlighted the international dimension of the controversy, noting that China's ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, responded to the issue on social media.

Dawn, a Pakistani outlet, framed the incident more critically, describing Peters' comments as drawing the 'ire' of Beijing's ambassador. Their report delved into Peters' history of making racially charged comments, citing previous instances involving his deputy and his party. The outlet also noted that Peters' comments were part of a pattern of behavior that has sparked controversy in the past.

The South China Morning Post took a more neutral tone, framing the event as a 'parliamentary clash' and reporting on the exchange with a focus on the diplomatic response from Beijing. They described the incident as a 'subtle rebuke' from China, emphasizing the formal diplomatic channels being used in response.

These differing editorial choices reflect the varied angles from which the story is being covered, from a direct critique of Peters' rhetoric to a more measured analysis of the diplomatic implications.

Key claims

• New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters told a Chinese-born opposition lawmaker to 'go back to your own country' during a parliamentary debate.
• The comments were made during a parliament session on the government's Covid-19 pandemic response, as reported by Al Jazeera and the South China Morning Post.
• China's ambassador to New Zealand, Wang Xiaolong, responded to the incident on social media, with his remarks being reported by multiple outlets.
• China urged New Zealand politicians not to invoke Beijing in domestic disputes, a call that was carried by Al Jazeera.
• Peters has a history of making racially charged comments, including a prior incident involving a lawmaker and his deputy's remarks on trade deals, as reported by Dawn.