Chinese Embassy Protests Tourists Forced To Hand Over Electronic Devices At New Zealand Airport

JAKARTA - The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand has filed a complaint with Wellington about "harassment" against its citizens at the airport, referring to the case of a traveler being forced to hand over electronic devices.

The protests come amid quite stable relations in recent years, in which New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has visited China this year.

The embassy cited "harassment and interrogation without reason" by New Zealand security and intelligence agency officials in transiting citizen cases. Some of the confiscated digital devices were not returned.

"Chinese Embassy in New Zealand has filed a serious objection to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and lamented the unreasonable acts and harassment," a statement on its website of the Chinese Embassy was reported by Reuters, Wednesday, September 17.

In response, a spokesman for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the embassy had been advised to remind all people transiting or entering the country to comply with its laws and regulations, including those related to national security and borders.

"These laws and regulations are implemented non-discriminatoryly, regardless of their home country," the spokesman said in a statement not mentioning details of specific cases.