Beijing has fired back at the United States after the FBI opened a new permanent office in Wellington, New Zealand, with a stated aim of countering transnational crimes and, notably, China’s influence in the Pacific.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced the move, saying the bureau’s attaché office would help address global threats including terrorism, cybercrime, money laundering, and child exploitation while also increasing pressure on China’s activities in the region.
China responded swiftly through its embassy in Wellington, condemning the narrative as driven by a “Cold War mentality.”
“Transnational crime is a global challenge requiring joint efforts,” a Chinese Embassy spokesperson said. “We strongly oppose any attempt to make groundless assertions or vilify China. Such acts are against people’s will and are doomed to fail.”
According to Bsgistnews, we gathered that while the U.S. clearly positioned the FBI presence as a strategic counterbalance to China’s growing footprint in the Pacific, New Zealand officials have downplayed that interpretation.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the topic of China was never discussed in his meeting with Patel. “We talked about the Pacific, law and order concerns, and how we can be part of the solution. China was not raised,” he clarified.
Judith Collins, Minister responsible for intelligence agencies NZSIS and GCSB, echoed his remarks, emphasizing that the U.S. was primarily focused on combating drug trafficking, especially fentanyl and methamphetamine. “We’re not going to single out any country,” Collins said.
Dr. Peter Grace of the University of Otago weighed in, noting that drug and human trafficking are “spiraling out of control” in the Pacific, and New Zealand lacks the capacity to tackle them alone. “Having a partner with deeper pockets like the U.S. can be beneficial,” he added.
Opposition parties expressed mixed reactions. The Labour Party criticized the sudden announcement, while the Green Party argued the office should not exist at all and called for New Zealand to exit the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.
