Spying on China

100 comments on “Spying on China ”

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1. Paul 1

   19 April 2015 at 8:57 am

   What a bunch of incompetent clowns.
   Pity we didn’t fire the lot of them in 2014.

   Actually pity they were ever hired.

   Wake up New Zealand these guys do NOT care about you.
2. ianmac 2

   19 April 2015 at 9:03 am

   Whilst the GCSB is not we are told, spying in NZ what is there to stop other 5Eyes from spying on us and in return we spy on them then swap information gleaned. That way the PM can say hand on heart that the GCSB is not spying on NZers. Simple.
   The Chinese might retaliate with Trade sanctions. The dairy industry might be concerned?
   • Paul 2.1

     19 April 2015 at 9:13 am

     There is clearly a lot of milk about. They could easily buy elsewhere.
     Maybe some National supporting farmers might start to realise that this government does not put their interests as high as they say they do.

     Key worked for Merrill Lynch and big US banking interests.
     He still does.
     • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1

       19 April 2015 at 3:21 pm

       There is clearly a lot of milk about. They could easily buy elsewhere.

       Give the Chinese time and they’ll outstrip us in milk production and export as well. Same as the US is doing already (I really have NFI why people think that the US is ever going to be a market for our agricultural produce). Agriculture is not how you develop a nations economy.
   • weka 2.2

     19 April 2015 at 9:15 am

     trade sanctions on milk exports is probably one of the better things that could happen at this point.
3. Penny Bright 3

   19 April 2015 at 9:16 am

   How is it LAWFUL for the GCSB be involved in the alleged planned spying on Chinese Consulate diplomatic communications?

   How ‘two-faced’ is ex-Wall Street banker, ‘smiling assassin’ NZ Prime Minister John Key?

   Whose interests was / is NZ Prime Minister John Key serving, as the (then) Minister responsible for the GCSB, in the alleged planned spying on China – NZ’s major trading partner?

   The New Zealand public or U$A corporate interests?

   Surely the issue is not (again) HOW these leaked documents were obtained – but whether or not they are FACTUALLY ACCURATE??

   Penny Bright

   http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz
   • Paul 3.1

     19 April 2015 at 9:22 am

     Penny, it is clear that Key still works for Wall Street.
     • Murray Simmonds 3.1.1

       19 April 2015 at 10:09 am

       In answer to the concluding sentence in Anthony Robins’ post:
       ” What could possibly go wrong? ”

       Well the worst thing that could possibly go wrong is that this bunch of diplomatically dense, myopic clowns (who kid themselves that they are successfully running to country according to plan) could get re-elected for yet another term if we are not careful . . . .

       And ‘according to plan’ in the above statement of course means “according to Uncle Sam’s plan”.
     • mary_a 3.1.2

       19 April 2015 at 12:37 pm

       @ Paul (3.1) Yes, Wall Street. And Washington. One and the same? Possibly.

       Doesn’t matter because one thing is definite, Key does NOT work in the best interests of NZ and Kiwis!

       Key’s spying activities on amiable nations, is not keeping us on an even keel throughout the international community. When more of this leaks out and becomes common knowledge, NZ will find itself under suspicion and isolated. And Key will be gone, lucratively paid off for his treason towards his homeland.

       Key is more of a threat to NZ than any outside terrorist could ever be.

       Wake up Kiwis!
       • Draco T Bastard 3.1.2.1

         19 April 2015 at 3:23 pm

         Key is more of a threat to NZ than any outside terrorist could ever be.

         QFT

         And that also includes the entire National Party as they support their leader.
4. david 4

   19 April 2015 at 9:20 am

   The government has plenty of ways to duck out of this: say they can’t remember; blame it on out of control bureaucrats; launch an enquiry; or blame it on the Greens.
   • BassGuy 4.1

     19 April 2015 at 11:45 am

     Don’t forget “Labour did it, too!”
   • mickysavage 4.2

     19 April 2015 at 11:45 am

     I don’t think they can claim they did not know. Section 8B of the GCSB Act says:

     8B Intelligence gathering and analysis
     (1) This function of the Bureau is—
     (a) to gather and analyse intelligence (including from information infrastructures) in accordance with the Government’s requirements about the capabilities, intentions, and activities of foreign persons and foreign organisations; and
     (b) to gather and analyse intelligence about information infrastructures; and
     (c) to provide any intelligence gathered and any analysis of the intelligence to—
     (i) the Minister …

     Presuming intelligence was collected Key must have been told.

     http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0009/latest/DLM5647924.html
     • dukeofurl 4.2.1

       19 April 2015 at 12:49 pm

       As well the PM ( or minister) has legal authority to know operational matters for GCSB that isnt normally available for routine government departments.

       I can imagine the chinese having taken particular care over the coms between the two different buildings.
       The consulate is a building on its own site, which I presume they would own, while the visa office is down the road in an office park.
       Maybe they had noticed the attempted intrusion and could rely on line of sight comms from then on.
5. ianmac 5

   19 April 2015 at 9:59 am

   Note that the Herald has slipped the online story down the page to be sandwiched between a story about heavy rain and one about a cricketer taking his kids to a takeway. Priorities?
   • dukeofurl 5.1

     19 April 2015 at 12:33 pm

     Thats what happens automatically on online versions.
     It may have different stories up top depending on your history or if you have looked at the story in question
     • Lanthanide 5.1.1

       19 April 2015 at 1:04 pm

       Yes, but they can also choose to promote a story to the top. Clearly they have not chosen to do that in this case.
6. Sanctuary 6

   19 April 2015 at 10:02 am

   The essential contradiction of NZ foreign policy is it’s desire to trade with Chinabut fight with America. We just about manage to pull it off, but when a sycophantically pro-American like Key is in charge the balance is lost.

   Wait for an obscure change in health regulations leaving tons of our exports on their wharves while China “apologetically” tries to work it through with our officials.
   • saveNZ 6.1

     19 April 2015 at 10:13 am

     @Sanctuary +1
7. saveNZ 7

   19 April 2015 at 10:13 am

   It’s pretty simple to see NZ government has put NZ into an extremely dangerous position.

   They are absolute MORONS. I mean we already knew that but it keeps getting worse.

   They seem incapable of saying NO to either US or China and therefore endangering the relationship with both and screwing our country up permanently. They also are in breach of international law, good will etc.

   Somehow we are now owned or indebted to, two rival superpowers both internally and externally.

   Will this nightmare government ever end?

   If they just have one pinch of common sense and spine to do what is right morally and for the people of this country they would not have got caught up with illegal spying for the US or selling our country off to non resident foreign owners and would not have put NZ in this position.
   • Colonial Rawshark 7.1

     19 April 2015 at 10:29 am

     The GCSB heads agreeing to act in a way which jeapordises NZ economic security. There’s a name for that.
     • Paul 7.1.1

       19 April 2015 at 10:41 am

       Treason?
       • Matthew Whitehead 7.1.1.1

         19 April 2015 at 10:57 am

         Treasonous stupidity?
8. Colonial Rawshark 8

   19 April 2015 at 10:17 am

   There’s no problem, I think someone’s knighthood is now pretty secure.
9. adam 9

   19 April 2015 at 10:17 am

   Dear Chinese government,

   The New Zealand government is a nasty, vindictive, amoral piece of work. They worship at the alter of cupidity, and are sycophants to wall street, all. It is doubtful these epigone to Washington could organise a piss up in a brewery – just look at our economy.

   Our Prime Minister is a hubristic fool, prone to vainglorious moments – on a much too regular basis. This is the opprobrium of being closely associated with gangsters, like the USA corporations.

   That said, I think you understand, we the people who live here, are really not responsible. We had a lot of propaganda, and indeed some real dirty politics so these politicians could stay in power. Maybe that the real problem – we the people don’t run our country. Because if we did – we would not bother spying on you – that would be to much effort.

   So please, please, please don’t stop sending the flat screens. We won’t question the daily suicides in your factories again. And please, most of all, just remember when you play games of state – you will always get people like, John Key.
   • Bill 9.1

     19 April 2015 at 10:22 am

     Excellent! 🙂
   • Tracey 9.2

     19 April 2015 at 10:31 am

     china are not saints. their wealthy are getting wealthy on the back of human rights abuses and exploiting working conditions. i get what you are saying but like attracts like. keys ethics are mirrored in who he grovels to. the dollar. no matter how bloodstained it is. he insulated himself from it by getting someone else to clean it off before he pockets it.
     • Draco T Bastard 9.2.1

       19 April 2015 at 3:49 pm

       +1111
     • marty mars 9.2.2

       19 April 2015 at 8:38 pm

       + 1 our hands are dirty too and we know it, even though we pretend with all our might
   • Once was+Tim 9.3

     19 April 2015 at 10:38 am

     PS Dear China,
     Do you mind if we adopt your solution to the problem of corrupt politicians and officials?
   • cogito 9.4

     19 April 2015 at 2:51 pm

     🙂 🙂

     But, personally, I have no time at all for the Chinese, their corrupt communist dictatorship, their repression of the Hong Kong democratic movement, their abysmal record on human rights, their criminal drug activities in NZ, their financial invasion of NZ land, properties and businesses…. As for their flat screen tvs – they can keep them.
     • Once was Tim 9.4.1

       19 April 2015 at 8:58 pm

       Agreed. But can we import the firing squads for corrupt officials and politicians? They’ll be a lot more ‘seemly’ and less upsetting for the littluns than corpses hanging from lamposts when the inevitable happens if we continue to persue the direction we’re heading. We seem to have lost the ‘learnings’ from history, and even ‘understandings’ of basic mathematics (the 99% up against the 1).
       (Like those pesky split hairs and the Pantene solution – it won’t happen overnight, but it WILL happen – royalties to Rod’s ex; GST to IRD)
   • Draco T Bastard 9.5

     19 April 2015 at 3:48 pm

     That said, I think you understand, we the people who live here, are really not responsible.

     Actually, we are because we voted the fuckers in. What you say here is a good example of the disassociation that comes with Representative Democracy. It allows people to say the government did this, the government did that and it’s not what I wanted thus it’s not my responsibility. This is complete bollocks. We are the government and parliament is working for us and if it’s not doing what we want then we need to get rid of it.

     Personally, I think we need to change the system because of the faults that it has. It really is more of an elected dictatorship than democracy and it was purposefully set up that way so as to prevent the people actually governing themselves.
     • Once was Tim 9.5.1

       20 April 2015 at 1:24 pm

       …..”It really is more of an elected dictatorship than democracy…”
       ain’t that the truth!. I think there’s been a sort of cultural shift (part of the I I I me me me culture in fact) where the winner takes all.
       MMP went part of the way to fixing the FPP fuckup but many still think in FPP terms.
       As Kelsey noted in one of her early books, at least MMP reigned in treasury to a degree because they found themselves having to negotiate and compromise a little. That’s not to say they haven’t now figured out other ways of pushing their barrow.
       How can we fix this ‘elected dictatorship’? – I’d be interested in your thoughts @DracotBastard (knowing of course you’re a hard left wing kinsprissy thereist pink commie bastard).
       I’d like to see some sort of upper house or mechanism providing the powers of veto (such as a ‘senate’ for want of a better word, that’s comprised of elected local/regional council reps) – at least some means of localising/regionalising reps….. along with things such as term limits, and as someone in here once suggested – a 3 year time limit on any legislation passed under urgency.
       • Draco T Bastard 9.5.1.1

         20 April 2015 at 2:31 pm

         How can we fix this ‘elected dictatorship’?

         Progressively shift to a more referendum driven policy development and passage. That will, IMO, require online voting and a reduction in working hours from our excessively high working week.

         I’d like to see some sort of upper house or mechanism providing the powers of veto (such as a ‘senate’ for want of a better word, that’s comprised of elected local/regional council reps)

         The US and the UK have one of those. It hasn’t made anything better. When both houses are dominated by the same parties then the upper house merely becomes a rubber stamp and when the houses oppose each other the upper house becomes a restriction preventing law changes no matter how necessary.
10. Murray Simmonds 10

    19 April 2015 at 10:19 am

    ‘. . . .desire to trade with China but fight with America.”

    Unfortunately its not just “fight with America”. Its also bend over backwards to meet their every whim and desire.

    The Pan Pacific Trade agreement shows just how determined the big USA corporates and multinationals are to dominate global market share at all costs.

    Including in our case the cost of our sovereignty and our right to determine our own economic direction in the world.

    And this idiot government just can’t wait to sign us up to it.
11. Colonial Rawshark 11

    19 April 2015 at 10:25 am

    Listen to this useless so-called academic from Victoria University in the Herald article. Apparently policy making is not an area of government which is helped by “public scrutiny”:

    Victoria University’s Dr Jim Rolfe, director of its Centre for Security Studies, said there were areas of government which were not helped by public scrutiny.

    He said the Snowden revelations had produced benefits in revealing over-reach in some intelligence operations, although “90 per cent of it is prurient”.

    “I suspect things have been hurt rather than helped by Snowden because it has distracted policy makers from their work.”

    I’d like Jim Rolfe to come forward and point to the 90% of Snowden’s revelations which are “prurient.” What a dick. Sounds like he has been too closely linked to the establishment for far too long. Especially considering that the Snowden relevations have been very carefully selected and reported on by Glenn Greenwald, the Guardian, the New York Times, the Washington Post and other leading media exactly for their relevance to democracy and accountability (or the lack of it) behind the activities and technologies of our spy services. But lets worry more about his high up unaccountable policy maker friends being “distracted” by Snowden’s revelations.

    The irony is that it was the deep state PR machine which put out all the stories out there about Snowden being “attention seeking”, “narcissistic”, a “high school drop out”, having failed his military training etc. Now that was really “prurient.” Didn’t see him criticising the establishment PR though.
    • Tracey 11.1

      19 April 2015 at 10:33 am

      he means most people are too dumb to cope with knowledge. a few selected bright sparks, like him for example, know what is best for us lower beings. k?
      • Colonial Rawshark 11.1.1

        19 April 2015 at 10:44 am

        So much for our academic institutions highlighting abuses of power and holding the establishment to account.
        • Bill 11.1.1.1

          19 April 2015 at 11:20 am

          Outside of a short time around the 60s, when did they as institutions ‘highlight abuses of power’ or ‘hold the establishment to account’? They are the establishment.

          Whenever I think of ‘academic institutions’ I remember my grandfather telling me that it was university students who ran the trams during the 1926 General Strike. And then I reflect that those ‘academic institutions’ are becoming more and more the preserve of the monied and privileged these days…conservative and reactionary…at least in NZ.
          • Tracey 11.1.1.1.1

            19 April 2015 at 1:41 pm

            you mean like professor jane kelsey

            canty students mobilising post quake. i dont recall vice chancellors ever speaking except to want more money that they had already spent… academics always spoke out tho… less now than then but they do speak out
            • Colonial Rawshark 11.1.1.1.1.1

              19 April 2015 at 4:33 pm

              She’s literally a one in a thousand out of all the PhD types that the state employs, and you know it.
              • Murray Rawshark …

                19 April 2015 at 7:44 pm

                Hey. I’m a PhD type employed by the (Australian) state. I speak out, but quantum physics doesn’t have as much relevance as Jane’s work. I do suspect the Chinese will be moving to quantum cryptography for any diplomatic traffic within Aotearoa though. It’s not only unbreakable, but you know when someone’s tried.
                • Colonial Viper …

                  19 April 2015 at 11:42 pm

                  that probably means that you’re a one in a thousand as well…
    • dukeofurl 11.2

      19 April 2015 at 12:37 pm

      This is his bio. Work out if he independent or not ?

      Rolfe has had a career in both the public and university sector. He started his working life in the New Zealand Army, moved to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as a policy adviser dealing with a range of security issues and completed his PhD while there. He was Deputy Director of the Centre for Security Studies and Associate Director of the Master of International Relations Programme at VUW in the period 1991-2001. Rolfe then moved to the United States as an Associate Professor of International Relations at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies for six years. He returned to the Ministry of Defence where he was Principal Adviser, Strategic Policy for several years and from where he was seconded to the Australian Civil-Military Centre as Deputy Director.

      he may even be a ‘recruiter’ for the security services from amoung the graduate students.

      Its a bit like asking the police Union to comment on some situation- you know the approach they will have
    • Murray Rawshark 11.3

      19 April 2015 at 7:34 pm

      Dr Jim Rolfe is an ex-Army major who worked with Bananarama in Fiji and has had a position at a security think tank in the US and A. He’s as Kiwi as FJK.
12. Tracey 12

    19 April 2015 at 10:27 am

    we spy on our friends to get a business advantage we spy on our enemies to fuck up our business advantage
13. The Murphey 13

    19 April 2015 at 10:55 am

    Q. Remember the protracted and numerous accusations against Huawei ?
    • Lloyd 13.1

      22 April 2015 at 12:11 am

      The irony is that Huawei manufactured exchanges are most likely tapping GCSB and that they are listening to what GCSB has extracted out of the Chinese land-line…….
14. fisiani 14

    19 April 2015 at 11:11 am

    China is spying on NZ. We still trade with China and they with us. Another failed attempt to somehow smear Honest John.
    • Stuart Munro 14.1

      19 April 2015 at 12:40 pm

      Yup right – it’s pretty hard to further soil the image of an oozy turd like John Key.
    • Colonial Rawshark 14.2

      19 April 2015 at 2:02 pm

      China is spying on NZ. We still trade with China and they with us. Another failed attempt to somehow smear Honest John.

      So the damage to our (false) position as honest brokers is irrelevant to you? Sad, fisi, just sad.
      • felix 14.2.1

        19 April 2015 at 8:11 pm

        Guys like Key and even little fisiani don’t really have to get to grips with words like “honest”.

        It’s just a word, like “fact” or “actually” or “reality”, they’re all just words and depending what you use them for they can mean anything really.

        “Honest” might just mean “good at golf” for all we know.
        • Gosman 14.2.1.1

          20 April 2015 at 9:01 am

          Why do you think we are some sort of neutral honest broker?
          • felix 14.2.1.1.1

            20 April 2015 at 11:26 am

            I didn’t say we were.

            However successive governments of all stripes have talked up our “independent foreign policy” and our international reputation as an “honest broker”.

            You only have to go back as far as the current govt’s statements on our recent appointment to the UNSC to find examples of both.

            As it turns out neither are true as we spy for the U.S. on our friends, neighbours and trading partners around the world.
    • Draco T Bastard 14.3

      19 April 2015 at 3:16 pm

      Have you actually got proof of that or are you just going with the BS lines from Crosby/Textor/National Party HQ?
    • BassGuy 14.4

      19 April 2015 at 4:15 pm

      It’s not a smear if he actually was involved in it, now is it?
    • Fran 14.5

      19 April 2015 at 5:26 pm

      Best satirical comments everytime fisiani. I don’t know why so many people think you are serious, your comments are so out there they must be satire.
    • keyman 14.6

      19 April 2015 at 8:28 pm

      all these left wing clowns have no idea how the world works ,john key is working for new zealand and all these people want to do is run our great leader down.
      • Paul 14.6.1

        19 April 2015 at 8:40 pm

        zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
    • keyman2 14.7

      19 April 2015 at 8:34 pm

      china will not care the important thing is John key is out doing it for new Zealand
15. Penny Bright 15

    19 April 2015 at 2:51 pm

    NEW ZEALAND PLOTTED HACK ON CHINA WITH NSA

    https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/04/18/new-zealand-china-gcsb-nsa-auckland-hack/

    “New Zealand spies teamed with National Security Agency hackers to break into a data link in the country’s largest city, Auckland, as part of a secret plan to eavesdrop on Chinese diplomats, documents reveal.

    The covert operation, reported Saturday by New Zealand’s Herald on Sunday in collaboration with The Intercept, highlights the contrast between New Zealand’s public and secret approaches to its relationship with China, its largest and most important trading partner.

    The hacking project suggests that New Zealand’s electronic surveillance agency, Government Communications Security Bureau, or GCSB, may have violated international treaties that prohibit the interception of diplomatic communications.

    New Zealand has signed both the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, international treaties that protect the “inviolability” of diplomatic correspondance. The country’s prime minister, John Key, said in a recent speech on security that New Zealand had an obligation to support the rule of law internationally, and was “known for its integrity, reliability and independence.”
    ______________________________________________________________________________________

    So – how LAWFUL was this planned spying on Chinese diplomats in New Zealand?

    Looks like the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security may have yet ANOTHER ‘inquiry’ on her hands?

    (I know the ‘spin’ will focus on HOW these documents were obtained, rather than their FACTUAL ACCURACY?)

    Penny Bright

    http://www.pennybright4mayor.org.nz
16. Wayne 16

    19 April 2015 at 3:20 pm

    Penny,

    You simply have no idea what you are talking about.

    Last time I checked China was a foreign country. And that is what GCSB primarily does, spy on foreign countries. It is specifically what it was set up for.

    China is hardly going to be surprised by this “revelation”, and apart from proforma protest will do nothing.
    • Colonial Rawshark 16.1

      19 April 2015 at 4:32 pm

      China is hardly going to be surprised by this “revelation”, and apart from proforma protest will do nothing.

      So we recently decide to systematically violate the sanctity of their diplomatic communications on US orders, and despite this change in our posture towards them, China will simply shrug its shoulders? LOL
      • Anne 16.1.1

        19 April 2015 at 6:28 pm

        Its called denial CR. Quite a serious case of it imo.
    • McFlock 16.2

      19 April 2015 at 4:38 pm

      China might hardly be surprised, but I will hardly be surprised if some of our more perishable exports have “customs misunderstandings” in the next few months.

      Just a little smack to keep us in line.
      • emergency mike 16.2.1

        19 April 2015 at 5:17 pm

        That was my first thought about this also. Expect a correction to Chinese requirements for NZ imports in the not too distant future.
    • Murray Rawshark 16.3

      19 April 2015 at 7:49 pm

      Jeez Wayne, can you tell us about the Vienna Conventions on diplomatic communications? It’s also probable that Kiwis applying for visas were being spied on. That’s another breach of our own laws.

      While I’m happy you’re out of parliament, I fear that whoever replaced you probably has the same flexible ethics.
    • Pascals bookie 16.4

      19 April 2015 at 8:21 pm

      So why bother keeping it all secret then Wayne?

      Actual question there. I mean, what’s the point in keeping it all secret if everyone knows?
17. McFlock 17

    19 April 2015 at 3:49 pm

    NZ is a small state geopolitically. We need to straddle the gulf between the larger powers and strengthen inter-governmental diplomatic organisations, not become a client state of one or the other – that weakens our position with both.

    It’s one thing to openly assist the US against 4th parties, but directly and covertly assisting the US (which is possibly entering a decline phase) against another superpower is a bullshit move that would likely have MFaT officials headdesking.
    • cogito 17.1

      19 April 2015 at 4:05 pm

      As a small state geopolitically, NZ would do well to decide who its friends are and then behave accordingly.
      • McFlock 17.1.1

        19 April 2015 at 4:29 pm

        States don’t have friends. Just “stateswho aren’t working to attack us”, “states who are probably working towards attacking us”, “states we will protect to serve our own interests while extracting as much as possible from the arrangement”, and “states who are serving their own interests by protecting us while extracting as much as possible from the arrangement”.

        Basically, our objective would be to maintain as much independence as possible, rather than being overcome or ceding our sovreignty to another nation.
        • cogito 17.1.1.1

          19 April 2015 at 4:56 pm

          “States don’t have friends”

          Yes they do.
          • McFlock 17.1.1.1.1

            19 April 2015 at 5:07 pm

            Only in the shallowest “nice if I can get something out of it, drop you like a hot potato if you don’t give me a port of convenience for my nuclear-armed vessels” sense of the word.

            The sort of “friendship” one sees between sociopaths or drunk teenagers.
      • Colonial Rawshark 17.1.2

        19 April 2015 at 4:30 pm

        Then make sure you pick friends which are on the ascendance, not friends whose fortunes are on the wane.
        • McFlock 17.1.2.1

          19 April 2015 at 4:38 pm

          friends like those, who needs enemies?
18. Penny Bright 18

    19 April 2015 at 4:00 pm

    So you don’t believe in the ‘Rule of Law’ Wayne?

    Penny Bright
    • adam 18.1

      20 April 2015 at 8:11 am

      What ‘rule of law ‘Penny?

      Laws, good people don’t need them, and the bad will just break them.

      To many of our so called laws – uphold bad peoples virtues – like the reserve bank act, or that little nugget which brought us the super city.
19. Sable 19

    19 April 2015 at 5:01 pm

    Utter bunch of screw ups. Well done Shonkey. Now the country with the fastest economic growth on earth is ticked off with us. Whilst the sad defunct USA with 18 trillion in debt is our friend……Well done…..
20. keyman 20

    19 April 2015 at 6:40 pm

    you clowns don’t know what your taking about all countries spy nothing to see here no smoking gun move on
21. Murray Rawshark 21

    19 April 2015 at 7:23 pm

    This is the sort of thing that could see China cutting off diplomatic relations. It seems clear that it violates the Vienna conventions. I’d laugh if FJK visited China and got arrested. At least his family could afford to pay for the bullet.
    And Dr. Jim Rolfe seems to be a total moron.
    • rawshark-yeshe 21.1

      19 April 2015 at 7:43 pm

      Maybe Collins could help bail him out over there ?? 😀 ( or more likely offer to pay the bullet herself?)
      • Murray Rawshark 21.1.1

        19 April 2015 at 7:52 pm

        Only if it was on the way to the airport. Which actually means anywhere in China.
    • saveNZ 21.2

      19 April 2015 at 10:01 pm

      @Murray +1
    • infused 21.3

      19 April 2015 at 11:10 pm

      jack shit will happen. Why? See my bottom comment.
      • felix 21.3.1

        20 April 2015 at 3:26 am

        Ah, they’re coming from your bottom. Makes more sense now.
22. dave 22

    19 April 2015 at 8:36 pm

    i sort hope china is pissed
23. infused 23

    19 April 2015 at 11:09 pm

    You guys should do a little bit of research on China’s spy ops, mainly cyber related.

    All this tells me is you guys are completely clueless.

    Here’s a tip. Go do some research on a company called Nortel and follow the bread crumbs. Your faux outrage is hilarious.
    • Colonial Viper 23.1

      19 April 2015 at 11:40 pm

      maybe you think our intelligence services should be poodles at the beck and call of the NSA even against our own interests, but not everyone else does.
    • Draco T Bastard 23.2

      20 April 2015 at 12:08 am

      It’s one of those points that the right-wing just don’t seem to get: Just because someone else engages in immoral behaviour doesn’t give us carte blanche to do the same. Also known as: Two wrongs don’t make a right.

      We need to protect ourselves from their spying and call it out when we catch them but not actually engage in spying on them.
    • emergency mike 23.3

      20 April 2015 at 5:45 am

      Here’s a tip infused. If you read the OP you’ll find it’s about our spies spying on China, possibly in breach of an international treaty that we’ve signed up to.

      You seem to be concerned about China’s spying operations. Don’t sweat it, easy mistake I’m sure. Perhaps you could write a letter to the Chinese embassy about it? Or maybe become a Chinese citizen and vote against the Chinese Communist Party at the next election? Let us know what you decide to do and how it goes.

      I know you’re not pulling the old ‘but they did it too’ excuse for your mate John’s risky and rude treatment of one of our biggest trading partner’s representative guests in our country. Primary school kids don’t get away with that one. So that would be idiotic of you.

      Just like ol’ Honest John’s weekly “Labour did it too” and “Helen Clark did worse” lines for his weekly fuck up. They seem to go down a treat with the idiotic. Some of them even come around here and proudly, obediently, repeat them, apparently completely unaware how fucking idiotic it makes them look.
    • Pascals bookie 23.4

      20 April 2015 at 7:23 am

      lol Infused.

      last time you followed breadcrumbs you reported back that there would be a full scale war on the Korean peninsula within ten days, and Iran would attack Israel, or some shit.
      • infused 23.4.1

        20 April 2015 at 10:25 am

        Hey, we were close.

        This has already happened. Years ago, and explains many other cyber related spying issues in the process.
        • Pascals bookie 23.4.1.1

          20 April 2015 at 11:03 am

          No we were not close.

          You said a bunch of things were going to happen on account of your superior knowledge gleaned from deleted internet posts.

          A bunch of other people laughed at you said ‘no it won’t; you’re full of shit’

          Turned out those other people were correct.
24. One Anonymous+Bloke 24

    20 April 2015 at 8:47 am

    The official response makes for ‘interesting’ reading.

    The Chinese Embassy in New Zealand issued a statement Sunday, saying that China was concerned about the report and attached great importance to the cyber security issue.

    “We will firmly safeguard our security interests and continue to guarantee our cyber and information security with concrete measures,” said the statement.

    “At present, cyber space is riddled with chaos and uncertainty. China proposes to settle disputes through dialogue and formulate codes to regulate cyber space behaviors that are acceptable to all sides.”

    Chaos and uncertainty, eh? Sounds quite inharmonious.
25. Gosman 25

    20 April 2015 at 8:59 am

    Guess what guys. China spies on us as well. Shock Horror!
    • One Anonymous+Bloke 25.1

      20 April 2015 at 10:48 am

      The difference being that they’re in a position to do something about it, and we, um, aren’t.

      The story is high on the page. The National Party’s owner/donors will be nervous about the potential for a consumer boycott. “We won’t open all your mail” will be a great point of difference their competitors can exploit.
    • Sable 25.2

      20 April 2015 at 2:22 pm

      The real question is why are we not fostering closer relations with China? Instead of backing the defunct USA?
      • cogito 25.2.1

        20 April 2015 at 2:57 pm

        Judging by Auckland these days, I would say that we are. The Chinese already own our businesses and houses, won’t be long before they’re in our beds and we’re reciting passages from Chairman Mao’s little red book…. in Mandarin.
26. Instauration 26

    20 April 2015 at 8:11 pm

    MITM – LOL

    588 Great South Road – CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN AUCKLAND

    600 Great South Road – Endace Measurement Systems Limited – http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8859155/NZ-firm-linked-to-suspect-spy-row

    630 Great South Road – CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN AUCKLAND Visa Office

    Follow the unstamped duct covers – dark fibre below.

    MEET-ME At Your Riser
    

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