Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Dunne Peter: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:619;Page:15228] 
3.  
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
 to the  
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade 
: Why was Taiwan Minister of State Lin Yi-Fu refused entry to New Zealand and how is this “in the best interests of New Zealand” as the Minister claims? 
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade) 
: 
 Mr Lin was not refused entry to New Zealand. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Will the Minister not confirm that the Taiwan authorities were told on Monday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade that Minister Lin would not be permitted to enter New Zealand because Australia had decided not to give Minister Lin a visa to enter that country and since when has New Zealand’s foreign and trade policy been determined by what goes on in Australia? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I cannot confirm that because to the best of my knowledge it is simply not correct. As to who determines New Zealand’s foreign policy New Zealand does but I can help the member by quoting to him from a letter from the chair of the New Zealand Taiwan Business Council Bertha Wright. She said: “The Taiwanese delegation has requested that our joint conference be postponed so that a future date can be set to allow more preparation so that they are able to attend both the Australia and New Zealand business conferences on the same trip.” As the member knows the Australians declined a visa to Mr Lin. 
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban 
: What is the New Zealand Government’s position with regard to recognition of Taiwan as representing the Government of China and how long has it held that position? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: New Zealand does not recognise Taiwan as representing the Government of China. It has held that position for 32 years—that is since 1972. New Zealand holds to a one-China policy in common with practically all of the countries of the world bar a handful of small countries. 
Rod Donald 
: Why is the Labour Government allowing the autocratic Chinese rulers to dictate New Zealand’s foreign policy and why are human rights democracy and freedom of speech now subservient to free-trade deals when the Minister used to believe that making money was secondary to matters of principle? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: Firstly New Zealand does not allow any other country to dictate its foreign policy and that includes China. Secondly the member made the allegation that human rights policies are somehow being subordinated. I could mention to that member that New Zealand has stood firm on its policy on human rights in China to the extent that it welcomed the Dalai Lama to New Zealand and to the extent that it refused to have a situation whereby New Zealanders in this country could not demonstrate against a high-level visit. I can tell that member that on practically every bilateral agenda I have with China human rights is an issue. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Why did he make the statement that it would be in New Zealand’s best interest if the Taiwanese Minister of State Mr Lin did not visit New Zealand at this time when he Mr Goff New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade is happy to be photographed holding hands with Yasser Arafat? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: I have been photographed with all sorts of leaders around the world. I meet with leaders of other countries regardless of my views of their personal policies and the member knows that. What he is saying is simply a cheap shot. What I am saying is that this Government will act in the political interests of this country and it is not in our political interests to politicise our relationship with Taiwan. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: If the Minister’s original answer that no decision has been made to deny Minister Lin entry to New Zealand is correct why did the Minister claim on radio this morning that to have Minister Lin visit New Zealand at this time would escalate cross - Taiwan Strait tensions at a time when both Taiwan and China have deliberately cancelled their annual military exercises in the Straits of Taiwan to de-escalate those tensions; is the Minister seriously claiming that a visit to New Zealand is about to start World War III? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: No and I never made any suggestion to that effect. What I said was setting the context. There has been an escalation in cross - Taiwan Strait tensions. The member knows that to be a fact. I mentioned that we are having trade discussions with China. That will be of huge benefit to this country and practically every party in this Chamber will support that. I said that by way of a general context saying that our relationship with Taiwan is economic and cultural it is not political. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: When the deputy secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was in Taipei last week on a familiarisation visit did he discuss Minister Lin’s proposed visit to New Zealand with any of the officials or Ministers whom he met; if he did have that discussion what then was the tenor of Mr Green’s discussion with the Taiwan authorities on Monday where the decision was conveyed that Minister Lin would not be welcome in this country? 
Hon PHIL GOFF 
: Mr Green the Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade certainly did visit Taiwan as our officials do from time to time in furtherance of the economic and cultural relationship between the two countries. That is quite within the parameters of our one-China policy. I can categorically say that Mr Green did not use language that Minister Lin was not welcome or wanted in New Zealand. Mr Green did point out that the context had changed somewhat with the Australian decision not to grant a visa and that representation may be more appropriate at a vice-ministerial level.