Wellington, Aug 14 (V7N) – China's embassy in New Zealand has strongly condemned a recent intelligence report accusing Beijing of conducting espionage activities "at scale" on New Zealand soil, dismissing the allegations as "groundless" and "fabricated out of thin air" .

The statement came in response to the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service's (NZSIS) annual report, which identified China as the only country detected pursuing espionage against New Zealand systematically . The report alleged that Chinese spies were targeting current and former government officials with access to classified information and attempting to recruit individuals via professional networking sites .

In a strongly worded response, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy accused the spy agency of being part of a wave of "attacks, slander and vilification" against China . The spokesperson further stated, "Its false allegations against China either smear normal exchanges and cooperation as so-called espionage or interference, or are entirely groundless and fabricated out of thin air" .

The embassy suggested the report's release "at this particular juncture is no coincidence," characterizing it as potentially a "product of foreign interference" orchestrated by forces aiming to undermine bilateral ties . It also warned unnamed actors not to "quench their thirst with poison, and not to lift a rock only to drop it on their own feet" .

The NZSIS report also detailed a specific incident where it claimed to have disrupted an attempt by the Chinese military-linked Purple Mountain Observatory to covertly set up satellite tracking infrastructure in New Zealand . The agency alleged the local company involved was likely unaware the equipment could collect intelligence of "military value" .

The diplomatic spat follows recent tensions, including an official complaint from the embassy regarding remarks made by New Zealand's Foreign Minister . The embassy's statement emphasized the importance of a "mutually beneficial" bilateral relationship and warned that undermining it could be counterproductive .

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