Tim Cheung (@TimCheung)

"Foreign interference linked to China 'in and against New Zealand' is labelled an 'intelligence concern' by the country's spies in their first-ever comprehensive assessment of threats against #Aotearoa published publicly. The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) on Friday released a report on the threats of violent extremism, foreign interference and espionage facing New Zealand...The 'most notable' interference activity is the 'continued targeting of New Zealand's diverse ethnic Chinese communities', the report says. 'We see these activities carried out by groups and individuals linked to the intelligence arm of the People's Republic of #China (#PRC)'. The report makes it clear that those responsible for foreign interference are the states themselves and the agents working on their behalf - not people in New Zealand with ethnic connections to those states. Strategic competition - China's "growing assertiveness' is mentioned - is having an impact, the report says. 'PRC's efforts to advance its political, economic, military and security involvement in the Pacific is a major factor driving strategic competition in our home region. PRC has significant and growing intelligence and security capabilities, and its efforts are increasing New Zealand's exposure to the consequences of strategic competition'. It says the #NZSIS is 'aware of ongoing activity in and against #NewZealand and our home region that is linked to the #PRC's intelligence services'...#Foreigninterference is categorised in the report as either political interference or societal #interference. Political interference is an act by a state to 'influence, disrupt or subvert another state's governance or political systems by deceptive, corruptive or coercive means'. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/08/new-zealand-spies-call-out-foreign-interference-including-by-china-in-first-of-its-kind-report.html