Winston Peters faces criticism from the Asian community and China after telling Chinese-born MP Lawrence Xu-Nan to 'go back to your own country'.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters faced significant backlash from both the local Asian community and the Chinese government following a parliamentary debate where he told Chinese-born MP Lawrence Xu-Nan to "go back to your own country." The remarks were described by many as blunt and potentially divisive, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon labeling the comments as "inappropriate" and "attention-seeking." Local residents and international students, such as Kida Chang and Yuejun Chen, expressed concern that the rhetoric could undermine the sense of belonging for migrants and international students. Chrissy Scarfe noted that the comments were not representative of all New Zealanders and warned that such language could fuel hostility toward diverse cultural backgrounds. The Chinese Embassy in Wellington has officially protested the statement, urging New Zealand to maintain a mutually beneficial relationship and to respect the local Chinese community. Beijing also urged New Zealand to avoid using China as a domestic political issue. The Asian community leaders, including Vishal Rishi, encouraged ethnic communities to voters to participate in the upcoming November election to ensure their voices are heard.