China has made a diplomatic protest to New Zealand after Foreign Minister Winston Peters characterised a Chinese-born MP as a “loudmouth” whom he urged to “go back to your own country” during a debate in parliament. Mr Peters, the leader of the populist New Zealand First party, made the remarks during Wednesday’s debate on the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The remarks drew rebukes from fellow MPs, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who criticised the “inappropriate attention-seeking comments”, media said. Mr Xu-Nan told TVNZ Mr Peters was “scapegoating the migrant communities” to distract from the government’s record. In its statement, the Chinese embassy urged New Zealand to “do more things conducive to bilateral relations rather than the other way around”.