New Delhi: China, Iran and Russia are conducting foreign and societal interference in New Zealand, the country’s intelligence service revealed in its threat assessment report made public for the first time Friday.
The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) has discussed several other factors that are impacting its national security, including violent extremism, foreign interference, strategic competition, declining social trust, technological innovation and global economic instability.
The report, New Zealand’s Security Threat Environment 2023, focuses on threats to the country’s national security caused deliberately by people and different ideologies and influences that motivate violent extremists. It highlights the activities of three states in particular — the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) and Russia.
It mentions that some foreign states target New Zealand for political, economic and military advantage through the use of espionage and interference.
The most notable case of foreign interference is the continued targeting of the nation’s diverse Chinese communities by people with links to the intelligence arm of the Chinese Communist Party. “Agents of foreign states are directed by foreign governments to undertake espionage or interference activities against New Zealand,” the NZSIS report said.
However, denying the allegations, the Chinese embassy in Wellington said it was “strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposed” to the China-related content in the report, claiming the Chinese government was conducting “normal” exchanges with overseas Chinese citizens in accordance with international law, the Reuters reported.
This is the latest in a series of recent statements from the New Zealand administration highlighting worries about China’s forceful behaviour and its destabilising consequences.
“The Pacific region is becoming more contested and less secure as China becomes more assertive”, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins reportedly said last month.
The NZSIS report also disclosed that societal interference was probably the most common form of foreign interference in New Zealand and has identified Iran as undertaking societal interference. It added that Iran monitors and reports on the activities and views of Iranian communities and dissident groups in New Zealand.
Mentioning the impact of declining social trust on foreign interference, the report stated that Russia’s international disinformation campaigns have not targeted New Zealand specifically, but have had an impact on the views of some New Zealanders.
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Rising extremesim
According to the report, increased strategic competition has contributed to foreign intelligence activity and the development of violent extremism in the country.
The report also warns of the impact of strategic competition on New Zealand’s national security, especially due to China’s rising assertiveness and international reactions to it. The report cites examples such as China’s actions in the South China Sea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
By giving a case study, the NZSIS report highlights the threat of violent extremism in New Zealand, which can be motivated by different ideologies and influences. According to it, White Identity-Motivated Violent Extremism (W-IMVE) is still the most prevalent form of extremism in New Zealand, which is attracting more young people.
“The number of young people joining W-IMVE is increasing. Whereas, a relatively limited number of recognised people still follow Faith Motivated Violent Extremism (FMVE) ideas,” the report said.
It also pointed out that, despite a sharp decline in recent years, support for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and similar organisations was still expressed by some in the country. “The majority of those who now support ISIL are people who engage in online propaganda consumption and propaganda promotion,” it added.
The report also discusses the challenges posed by technological innovation and global economic instability on New Zealand’s national security. “Cyberespionage is another common tactic and will continue to impact New Zealand networks,” it highlighted.
According to the report, technology has lowered the cost and simplified clandestine operations. “Utilising cybercriminal organisations or other players that are not directly connected to the state permits foreign powers to engage in foreign intervention and cyber espionage while denying any connection,” it added.
Moreover, states have made large investments in research and development because of the significance of technical innovation for intelligence gathering and disruption, claimed the report, adding, “The online environment has contributed to the radicalisation of New Zealand-based violent extremists.”
“The internet offers violent extremists with high levels of anonymity, which can make it difficult for intelligence agencies to detect and identify such individuals. The challenge is made even harder by the widespread public use of encryption technologies,” it added.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
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