New Zealand issued its annual security threat report, pointing out that “unfree countries” like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are conducting “foreign interference” in New Zealand. The report warns that the CCP poses a complex intelligence problem, attempting to manipulate New Zealand media and infiltrate and influence the country’s Chinese community.
On Tuesday (September 3), the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) stated in its annual report (PDF) that “a small number of unfree foreign states are engaged in foreign interference in New Zealand as a tool to advance their overseas interests.”
“In the context of strategic competition, they are trying to change New Zealand’s values and interests to align more with their own interests,” the report indicated. “The People’s Republic of China (PRC) remains a complex intelligence issue for New Zealand, but there are other countries engaging in malicious activities in this regard as well.”
The report highlighted that foreign countries conducting interference would attempt to mask the evidence of their involvement, making it difficult to uncover conclusive links between interference activities and foreign entities.
The report stated, “Foreign intelligence officers and their operatives may target community members, their families, or businesses to suppress their freedom of speech or association.”
It warned that the CCP is utilizing “front organizations” to intervene in various Chinese communities in New Zealand.
“The NZSIS has found individuals attempting to exploit complex and deceptive front organizations to engage with New Zealand groups and replace authentic and diverse community perspectives with PRC (CCP) endorsed viewpoints,” the report stated. “These front organizations often appear community-based, claiming to represent an issue or group of people, but their true affiliations, objectives, and funding sources are kept secret.”
“Community members may join these front organizations for legitimate personal reasons or to meet community expectations, and may not be aware they are participating in activities perceived as foreign interference,” the report mentioned.
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service also pointed out that the CCP is attempting to manipulate New Zealand media to influence the country’s information environment.
For example, a Chinese-language news media based in New Zealand frequently echoes Beijing-approved talking points in New Zealand, although the report did not directly name the media outlet.
“The publisher of this news media outlet participated in a Chinese (CCP) organized media forum and signed content-sharing agreements with organizations that adhere to a similar narrative,” the report disclosed. “The media outlet often reproduces material provided by sources directly or indirectly controlled by the PRC (CCP), which contradicts widely accepted journalism norms in New Zealand.”
The report titled “New Zealand’s Security Threat Environment” aims to better inform New Zealanders of the security risks facing the country and assist the government in addressing the increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.
It further added that over the past decade, strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific region has primarily been between the CCP and New Zealand and its traditional security partners. However, recently, competition in the region has evolved into a “competition between several centers of power and influence.”
“These power centers encompass a range of countries, including India or Southeast Asian countries with increasingly close relationships with New Zealand,” the report elucidated.
“Our history, our international relationships, our people, and our geographic location mean that New Zealand is facing an increasing number of security risks,” the report concluded.
In July this year, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attended a NATO summit held in the United States. During a media interview, Luxon stated that New Zealand would expose more CCP espionage cases, emphasizing it as part of the strategic effort to raise national awareness of security threats.
He mentioned that New Zealand’s intelligence agencies would adopt a more transparent approach to cases to “improve people’s awareness of this issue and threat.”
“Exposing these matters and making them public is necessary,” Luxon told the Financial Times.