Chinese Embassy in New Zealand voices concerns to MFAT over Winston Peters comments

China has expressed its concerns to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade over comments Winston Peters made to Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan.The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand said it had lodged "solemn representations" with MFAT over the "negative China-related remarks made by a certain politician in the New Zealand Parliament."That certain politician, Peters, told the Chinese-born MP to "go back to your own country" during a debate in Parliament on Wednesday."That's where they lie like a flatfish, but they don't lie like that here, all right?" Peters said."This is called a democracy, unlike what you're used to."China's ambassador Wang Xiaolong had earlier posted on social media that New Zealand's domestic politics were not China's concern, but "sometimes, a statement says more about the person that makes it than anything or anybody else."RNZNow, China has escalated the matter, with the Embassy saying it had urged the New Zealand side to "value the equal and mutually beneficial relationship between China and New Zealand and to do more things conducive to bilateral relations rather than the other way around."The Embassy's statement called on the New Zealand side to respect and safeguard the Chinese community in New Zealand's legitimate rights and interests "and to create an open, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for them to study, live and work in New Zealand."Peters had earlier double-down in response to Wang, saying he was "defending New Zealand's democracy."He continues to stand by his comments.On Thursday night, a spokesperson for the minister said he had been briefed on an MFAT official's conversation with the Chinese Embassy that afternoon."He stands by his comments over the last couple of days, which have been aimed at defending New Zealand's democracy," the spokesperson said."The Minister is a long-standing custodian of the New Zealand-China relationship, having made seven official visits to China - most recently in late 2025."Xu-Nan, who has lived in New Zealand since 1994, said it was a "repeated behaviour and racism" from Peters, and called on the Prime Minister to hold him to account.