Government Pushes Back on Claims FBI's New Office in Wellington is Aimed at Countering China

The New Zealand government has firmly denied that the FBI's new office in Wellington is targeted at countering China, despite statements from FBI Director Kash Patel suggesting otherwise. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation's director, a Trump appointee, announced the opening of a new dedicated attaché office in the capital on Thursday, stating that New Zealand and the US are working together on 'some of the most important global issues of our times'. These include countering the Chinese Communist Party in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as tackling narcotics trade, cyberintrusion, and ransomware.

According to an official statement, the FBI's new office in Wellington is part of a 'historic step' in strengthening the working relationship with New Zealand. FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson told the Daily Mail that the office would help 'confront the growing threats of our time emanating from the Indo-Pacific - particularly from hostile nation-state actors like the Chinese Communist Party'. Patel, who visited New Zealand earlier this week, met with several government ministers, including the Minister Responsible for the spy agencies GCSB and NZSIS, Judith Collins, Police Minister Mark Mitchell, and Foreign Minister Winston Peters.

During the meeting, Collins stated that the upgrade of the FBI presence in Wellington to an office that reports directly to Washington DC, rather than Canberra, is a 'good thing'. She emphasized that New Zealand is 'fortunate to be part of Five Eyes' given its small population, and that the new office is not a response to China's influence, but rather a move to address transnational crime and the increasing influence of major drug traffickers across the Pacific.

When asked about the FBI's reference to China, Collins said she would not respond to other people's press releases. She noted that the US is 'very focused on fentanyl' and that New Zealand is focused on disrupting the methamphetamine trade. She also stated that the FBI is 'focused on parts of that but not all of that' when it comes to China's military activities in the region.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the new office is a 'really serious utility added to our crime fighting capacity in the Pacific' and that the subject of China was not raised in their meeting. He emphasized that the focus was on the Pacific and the need to improve the law and order situation in the region.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell, who met with Patel privately, said he 'likes him' and that he is 'very down to earth' and 'very aware and across the issues that we're facing'. He emphasized that the new office is not a sign of 'growing ties' with the US, but rather a strengthening of an already strong relationship.

Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour dismissed the Green Party's call to exit the Five Eyes intelligence sharing group, stating that the US is 'a long and strong friend of New Zealand' and that having an FBI office 'doesn't really change that, it just strengthens the relationship'.

Overall, the New Zealand government is emphasizing that the FBI's new office in Wellington is not a response to China's influence, but rather a move to address transnational crime and the increasing influence of major drug traffickers across the Pacific. The government is also highlighting the importance of the Five Eyes partnership and the need to work closely with the US on global security issues.