New Zealand follows UK in suspending Hong Kong extradition treaty over China’s national security law

Foreign minister says New Zealand ‘can no longer trust’ Hong Kong’s justice system

New Zealand has announced it will join the UK and other intelligence allies in suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong following the introduction of a controversial national security law by China.

The UK, Australia, Canada and the US all announced similar measures earlier this month after China passed the sweeping security law for the semi-autonomous territory.

New Zealand has often tried to avoid direct political confrontation with China in the past, as it relies on the country as its largest trading partner.

China buys billions of dollars worth of New Zealand’s agricultural goods each year.

Winston Peters, New Zealand’s foreign minister, said the new law went against commitments China had made to the international community.

“New Zealand can no longer trust that Hong Kong’s criminal justice system is sufficiently independent from China,” Mr Peters said.

He added that there would be other changes to the relationship, with New Zealand now treating military and technology exports to Hong Kong in the same way as it treats such exports to China.

The country has also updated its travel advice to warn its citizens about the risks they could face under the new law.

“We do have a mature relationship with China,” Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s prime minister, said.

“There have been occasions where we have taken different positions. This obviously will be one of them.”

The Chinese government has said the new security law is needed to combat terrorism and separatism in Hong Kong, while the UK has warned it goes against the terms of Sino-British Joint Declaration under which the territory was handed over to China in 1997.

China’s embassy in Wellington said the New Zealand government should stop interfering in its affairs.

“The New Zealand government’s decision is a serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations,” the embassy said in a statement.

“It is a gross interference in China’s internal affairs. The Chinese side has lodged its grave concern and strong opposition.”

It came as Dominic Raab, the UK’s foreign secretary, met with his Chinese counterpart to discuss Hong Kong and the situation in Xinjiang, where China is accused of human rights violations against the Uighur people.

Mr Raab said he told Wang Yi that China must “live up to their international obligations” and warned the Chinese official that the UK would be “closely” watching legislative council elections in Hong Kong in September.

Additional reporting by agencies