Foreign espionage increasing in Pacific, says NZ’s spy agency

Source: Asia Pacific Report

New Zealand’s spy agency says it is increasingly coming across espionage activity in the Pacific — and has identified individuals connected to an unnamed foreign intelligence service.

The NZSIS reports that individually, Pacific states remain vulnerable to attempts at subversion, both in politically, and in the community.

Security expert Al Gillespie told RNZ’s Midday Report on Friday that China had been singled out as a regional threat like never before.

“In previous reports you’ve seen it also making that point about Russia, or about Iran. But they’re not mentioned this time. But China is,” he said

“And it’s mentioned not just with regards to domestic interference but also with influence in the Pacific. And so they’re trying to shine a light on what may be going on.”

The NZSIS said in its Security Threat Environment 2026 report that regionalism and consensus were the best safeguards, which is why foreign actors sought to sow division.

Diaspora groups targeted
Meanwhile, the SIS also said diaspora community groups in New Zealand were being unfairly targeted by foreign states and their proxies seeking to limit their democratic rights and freedoms.

Gillespie said China was unfortunately not the only country that undertook this activity.

He said SIS staff spent a lot of time talking to different communities about how the agency functioned and how it would handle threats so people could feel confident about coming to them with their concerns.

The Chinese Embassy rejected the new NZSIS report, saying that it includes what it says are multiple “false allegations against China”.

In a statement on Friday, the Chinese Embassy in Wellington said the NZSIS report included baseless and fabricated accusations.

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Original source: https://analysis1.mil-osi.com/2026/08/16/foreign-espionage-increasing-in-pacific-says-nzs-spy-agency/