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Does he consider that the words “that’s where they lie like a flatfish”, spoken by him in the general debate in the House on 29 July 2026, referred to the People’s Republic of China, to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, to some or all Chinese people, or to none of those?

Answered Question 35414 (2026)
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Asked by

Vanushi Walters

List MP · Labour Party

Question

  • Does he consider that the words “that’s where they lie like a flatfish”, spoken by him in the general debate in the House on 29 July 2026, referred to the People’s Republic of China, to the Government of the People’s Republic of China, to some or all Chinese people, or to none of those?

Answered by

Rt Hon Winston Peters

List MP · NZ First · Minister of Foreign Affairs

Answer

The comments the member refers to were made as the Leader of New Zealand First and not as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.