New Zealand spy agency calls China 'most active' threat

The spy agency report called China a particularly 'assertive and powerful' actor. Beijing dismissed the 'groundless' claims as adoption of a 'Cold War mentality.'

New Zealand's intelligence agency on Thursday warned the country faces its toughest security challenges in decades, citing growing foreign interference and espionage, with China singled out as the "most active" actor.

The Security Intelligence Service (SIS) said in its annual threat report that New Zealand has been targeted by countries including China, Russia and Iran, which "are willing to engage in covert or deceptive activity to influence discussions and decisions, or gain access to technology and information that can help them meet these goals."