New Zealand’s spy agency says it is increasingly coming across espionage activity in the Pacific – and has identified individuals connected to an unnamed foreign intelligence service.
The NZSIS reports that individually, Pacific states remain vulnerable to attempts at subversion, both in politically, and in the community.
Security expert Al Gillespie told RNZ’s Midday Report that China has been singled out as a regional threat like never before.
“In previous reports you’ve seen it also making that point about Russia, or about Iran. But they’re not mentioned this time. But China is,” he said
“And it’s mentioned not just with regards to domestic interference but also with influence in the pacific. And so they;’re trying to shine a light on what may be going on.”
The NZSIS said that regionalism and consensus were the best safeguards, which is why foreign actors seek to sow division.
Meanwhile, the SIS also said diaspora community groups in New Zealand were being unfairly targeted by foreign states and their proxies seeking to limit their democratic rights and freedoms.
Gillespie said China was unfortunately not the only country that undertakes this activity.
He said SIS staff spent a lot of time talking to different communities about how the agency functioned and how it would handle threats so people could feel confident about coming to them with their concerns.
RNZ has reached out to the Chinese Embassy for comment.
