China's embassy in New Zealand has expressed its "strong dissatisfaction" over a visit to Taiwan by a cross-parliamentary group of MPs.

A lengthy statement posted by the embassy accused the MPs of "wrongdoings" and that they "insisted on colluding with 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces" during their trip.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan was established in 2023 and is jointly led by National's Stuart Smith and Labour's Tangi Utikere.

Other MPs on the delegation included National's Greg Fleming and Hamish Campbell, Labour's Helen White, ACT's Cameron Luxton, and New Zealand First's Jamie Arbuckle.

New Zealand does not recognise Taiwan as a country, instead adhering to the One China position.

That position was re-affirmed by the prime minister to Chinese Premier Li Qiang, when the latter visited New Zealand last year – though Christopher Luxon also spoke of the importance of de-escalation in the Taiwan Strait.

MP Stuart Smith holds a toast at a meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group in Taiwa. – RNZ/Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan)

While there are no diplomatic relations, New Zealand and Taiwan do share a trading relationship, which was worth $2.93 billion in 2024.

The group of MPs met with Taiwan's president Lai Ching-te, who said the New Zealand government had "on multiple occasions reiterated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."

Lai expressed hope that Parliamentary exchanges and mutual visits would become more frequent, saying they would explore more opportunities for cooperation and "further deepen and solidify" the democratic partnership between New Zealand and Taiwan.

"Authoritarian regimes continue to converge and expand," Lai said.

"Democracies must actively cooperate and jointly safeguard peace, stability, and the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region

According to a readout of the meeting, released by the Office of the President of Taiwan, Stuart Smith spoke of the shared values between New Zealand and Taiwan, as "both are trading nations that rely on easy access for imports and exports, and that is why freedom of navigation is so important.

"That is why New Zealand had a naval vessel sail through the Taiwan Strait, he said, to underline the importance of freedom of navigation and our mutual security."

The position of the New Zealand Government has been that the sailing was a "routine activity" and was not directed at or requested by any particular country.

After forming in 2023, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan was set to pay a visit that year. But it pulled out and said would wait until after the election.

ACT MPs Brooke van Velden and James McDowall went anyway.

By meeting with Taiwan's president, China said the visit sent a "gravely wrong signal" which was not in line with China-New Zealand relations.

China views the Taiwanese government as separatists and said the meeting was a violation of New Zealand's commitment to the One China policy.

"The wrongdoings of relevant New Zealand MPs severely violate the solemn political commitments made by New Zealand to China when the two countries established diplomatic ties," the spokesperson said.

China lodged "stern representations" with New Zealand in both Beijing and Wellington.

According to the Chinese embassy spokesperson, New Zealand responded that the MPs did not hold official positions in government, their trip to Taiwan was "private and individual," and their "words and deeds do not represent the New Zealand Government."

None of the MPs on the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taiwan are ministers, and New Zealand reiterated to China that senior officials, including Cabinet ministers, would visit Taiwan.

However, China did not agree with New Zealand's response.

"China emphasises that for any country, including New Zealand, the legislative body and the executive branch are both part and parcel of the government. Members of Parliament, as part of the legislative body, are not ordinary citizens but political figures," the spokesperson said.

"It is abundantly clear that such wrongdoings cannot be dismissed as mere individual behaviours to evade responsibility."

The statement finished with a warning that China reserved the right to take further measures in response.

New Zealand had recognised Taiwan before it switched diplomatic allegiances to China in 1972.

Since then, it has kept up engagements with Taiwan in an unofficial capacity.

Jason Young, director of the New Zealand Contemporary China Research Centre and associate professor of international relations at Victoria University, said the discussion and dialogue with Taiwan had focused on economic and cultural exchanges, and the visit was a continuation of that long-standing policy.

"I think it is important that New Zealand continues to engage with people all over the world, including with Taiwan," he said.

Young said cross-strait relations had become "very tense" since Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party returned to power.

While he did not expect further escalation, as New Zealand's position had not changed, he said it highlighted the sensitivity Beijing currently had towards other parts of the world engaging with Taiwan and a perception that political visitors to Taiwan inferred support for independence.

"When cross-strait relations are not in a good position, then they're very sensitive when other countries engage with Taiwan.

"Even though, in this case, the MPs were visiting Taiwan in their private capacity, and this has happened for many, many decades, I think this is really a reflection of the status of cross-strait relations at the moment."

Young said the heightened sensitivity was also partially a product of how other countries had been engaging with Taiwan.

"In particular, the United States has increased its engagement with Taiwan, as at the same time, the relationship between China and the United States has really deteriorated over the last sort of half-decade.

"And so, I guess from Beijing's perspective, they'll be seeing it within that broader international environment."