NZ’s ‘China spy’ Jian Yang insists he is fit to be MP

Secretive MP accused of being a former China spy insists he is fit to serve amid calls to probe his membership of the National party.

A secretive New Zealand MP accused of being a China spy has insisted he is fit to represent his community amid calls to probe his membership of the country’s opposition National party.

Jian Yang, a Chinese-born New Zealander, has been an MP since 2011, but in 2017 he was outed as a former member of the Chinese Communist Party and military intelligence agencies.

Amid revelations that Dr Yang had refused to give an English language interview in this term of parliament, and international media reports that some Five Eyes nations have expressed concerns over his connection to military intelligence, NZ Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters challenged opposition leader Todd Muller to “stand up for this country” and investigate Dr Yang’s membership of the National partyroom.

Dr Yang has denied ever being a spy, although he admits teaching English to Chinese spies. On Tuesday he told Sky News he was “suitable” to be a NZ member of parliament.

Last year, the NZ news website Stuff revealed Dr Yang organised a meeting with the head of China’s security forces for then-opposition leader Simon Bridges.

And this week, TV1 detailed two years of unsuccessful interview attempts to question the MP.

Hong Kong-based Financial Times Asia editor Jamil Anderlini, who broke the story of Dr Yang’s previous allegiances in 2017, told TV1 Dr Yang’s position in parliament made “New Zealand a laughing stock globally and in China”.

“How can you get away with this stuff? It’s unbelievable,” he said. “When it comes to our closest allies in the Five Eyes (intelligence-sharing agreement between USA, Canada, UK, Australia and NZ), it’s a source of bewilderment.”

Dr Yang has been supported by ex-PMs John Key and Bill English, ex-opposition leader Mr Bridges, and now Mr Muller, who promoted him up the party rankings in his new opposition line-up.

On Tuesday, Mr Peters, asked whether Dr Yang was suitable for parliament responded: “I’m astonished that four National party leaders refuse to address this issue. Just astonished.

“They could start standing up for this country, they could start behaving in a way that’s responsible, instead of carrying on the way they are.

“It is just incredible in the extreme that that could be happening in our country.”

Mr Muller said Dr Yang “absolutely has my confidence.”

“He’s a good list MP and represents Auckland and the Chinese community, both in Auckland and New Zealanders, very, very well,” he said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern refused to comment on the controversy.

“Issues of membership of other political parties (are) ultimately for the leader of those parties,” she said.