New Zealand PM John Key Says Gov't Didn't Hack China’s Diplomatic Communications With US Intelligence, Invites Chinese Officials For Questioning

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key denied reports on Monday his administration had collaborated an intelligence plan with the United States to intercept China’s diplomatic communications. He said he is inviting Chinese officials to ask him about the purported reports.

According to the news, the intelligence agency of New Zealand and National Security Agency of the U.S. planned to hack a certain data channel between a consulate of China in Auckland and Chinese visa office nearby. However, it could not be surmised whether such undertaking pushed through or was abolished as NSA’s Edward Snowden, a contractor, left the agency.

But the prime minister ignored the allegation, saying he will not give due attention “literally by any stretch of the imagination everything” what Snowden or any of his proponents claimed.

“[Snowden’s] a thief and he stole and you’ve got a bunch of people who’ve been out there propagating information that is actually been proven to be incorrect. No country in the world, including China, talked about the work their foreign intelligence gathering services performed,” Key told Radio New Zealand.

Key’s announcement came after a report has been disseminated that China expressed concerns over the allegation. In its state-run newspaper, Xinhua News Agency, Wellington’s Chinese Embassy issued a statement and explained how important cybersecurity is to Asia’s sleeping dragon.

The embassy said China vows to “firmly safeguard” its “security interests” and will maintain “concrete measures” to protect its “cyber and information security.” It continued saying the embassy never imagine its communications with a visa office will be invaded through hacking. And since the reality is that the cyber space is filled with uncertainty and chaos, it will propose diplomatic measures to settle disputes and may come up with codes to govern space behaviours mutually amenable.

When asked to make a comment, Key declined, but remarked that China’s only basis has been reportedly stolen. He added that he will not make an effort in discussing foreign intelligence his administration has collated from anywhere for any reason and all he can divulge is his government gathers data when it is for New Zealand’s best interests.

China is New Zealand’s biggest trading partner and Key is mum about the possibility the incident could tarnish their relationships.

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