By Joyce Huang | 2026-06-08

China is hardening its stance on Taiwan by punishing foreign politicians and journalists it says have crossed its red lines. The move is aimed at further isolating the democratic island, say analysts.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning confirmed on June 4 that Beijing had imposed a one-year entry ban on four New Zealand lawmakers who visited Taipei in May despite China's opposition.

"Their action violates the one-China principle and interferes in China's internal affairs," Mao said at a news conference.

"Anyone who crosses the [red] line on the Taiwan issue will pay the price," she added.

This is the first time that China has imposed such a ban on politicians from New Zealand, although Beijing has frequently shut out European or U.S. politicians for their pro-Taiwan narratives.

Pressure on Taiwanese ties

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called China's ban "entirely inappropriate," saying the members of parliament were not representing the government and were taking part in a "long-standing tradition" of parliamentary visits.

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade denounced the ban. "Such visits are not inconsistent with New Zealand's One China policy," it said.

"Laura McClure, one of the banned lawmakers, told Radio New Zealand she was "quite surprised and shocked" and called the ban "a form of intimidation." She said she "will not be apologizing" for traveling to Taiwan.

Like the United States, New Zealand maintains a "one China" policy while continuing unofficial ties with Taiwan.

The moves are part of a broader effort to limit Taiwan's international engagement, say analysts.

"China keeps squeezing Taiwan's international space, which aims to box Taiwan in the [domestic] cross-strait framework," Arthur Ding, a professor emeritus specializing in Chinese politics at National Chengchi University in Taipei, told Focus.

Beijing also uses sanctions as a weapon, which can be negotiated or lifted if it hopes to improve foreign relations, Ding added.

Reporter expelled

In a separate case, China confirmed that it had expelled a New York Times reporter in February.

The newspaper revealed that China acted against the Beijing-based reporter in response to the appearance by video of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te at a New York Times DealBook summit in December.

Vivian Wang, a China correspondent for the paper since 2020, played no role in the DealBook event. The Times said Chinese officials had complained for months about her reporting, which often addressed topics Beijing considered sensitive.

Washington responded by revoking the visa of a Chinese national working in the United States for the Chinese state news agency Xinhua, The Times cited someone briefed on the decision as saying.

In response to the expulsion, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian accused The Times of "giving Taiwanese authorities a platform to promote pro-Taiwan independence separatist rhetoric."

Chilling effect

In a Facebook statement, Taiwan's presidential spokeswoman, Kuo Ya-hui (Karen Kuo), condemned the Chinese move against New Zealand. Beijing's efforts to pressure media organizations into shunning Lai imperil press freedom and the safety of journalists, she said.

International journalism watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned China's ceaseless crackdown on both domestic and foreign journalists.

Beijing's eviction of Wang has created a chilling effect among foreign journalists working there, RSF Taipei-based Advocacy Manager Aleksandra Bielakowska said.

"I think the Chinese regime wanted to send a message to all the media that are remaining in China, to say to them that if you keep reporting on Taiwan, then you might be next … barred from China," Bielakowska told Focus.

Beijing used Taiwan as an excuse to expel Wang as China has long targeted ethnic Chinese reporters like her, she said. Such reporters' fluent Mandarin expands their access to sources and enables them to do more independent reporting.

Beijing keeps a dual visa strategy by punishing unfriendly journalists or granting long-term visas to those it finds favorable, said Bielakowska.

China is the world's largest jailer of journalists with 113 currently behind bars, RSF estimates show. In RSF's 2026 World Press Freedom index, China ranked 178th freest out of a total of 180 countries. Only North Korea and Eritrea were ranked as more repressive.