FBI Opens Wellington Office Amid China Concerns, NZ Government Denies Targeting

The FBI has opened a new standalone office in Wellington, New Zealand, with Director Kash Patel highlighting its role in countering Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific, alongside combating narcotics, cybercrime, and transnational threats. Despite Patel's remarks, New Zealand government officials, including Foreign Minister Winston Peters and intelligence minister Judith Collins, have pushed back on suggestions that the office's purpose is to target China, emphasizing instead cooperation on regional crime and security issues. The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand condemned the FBI's claims as "groundless assertions" rooted in Cold War mentality, opposing any attempts to vilify China. The FBI office will oversee operations in New Zealand and several Pacific countries, signaling a significant upgrade in US presence and collaboration within the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. This development reflects ongoing concerns from both Washington and Wellington about China's expanding diplomatic and military reach in the Pacific region. While New Zealand values the enhanced cooperation to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime, it aims to avoid framing the partnership as a confrontation with China.