A Chinese-born member of New Zealand’s parliament denied being a spy for China at a press conference on Wednesday, although he acknowledged having taught students English for the purpose of information gathering at one of China’s leading military academies.
Jian Yang, an MP for New Zealand’s ruling National party since 2011, spent more than 10 years training and teaching at elite facilities including China’s top linguistics academy for military intelligence officers, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.
Yang, responding to questions from reporters in Auckland, said that he had undertaken language training then stayed on to teach at the institute.