National MP Jian Yang reviewing citizenship declarations after investigation into his past, says Bill English

National MP Jian Yang is reviewing his New Zealand citizenship application to check that his declarations about his background in the Chinese military were correct.

National leader Bill English revealed today that Yang was double-checking his application from 13 years ago because concerns had been raised about its "correctness".

It was revealed by Newsroom on Wednesday that Yang taught English to Chinese intelligence agency cadets so they could monitor private communications.

Yang did not declare the names of the military institutions to New Zealand authorities when he applied for New Zealand citizenship in 2004.

Asked today whether he was concerned whether Yang had made a false declaration, English said it was a matter for the Internal Affairs Department.

"My understanding is that [Yang] has gone back to take a look at those declarations.

"If there is any concern about it that would be taken up with the Department of Internal Affairs because that's who deals with citizenship issues."

English said "issues have been raised about the correctness of the applications".

The National leader would not say whether the party had asked Yang to review his citizenship application.

Yang grew up in China before moving to Australia and then New Zealand. He spent time as a student and then lecturing at the People's Liberation Army-Air Force Engineering College and the Luoyang language institute.

Jian Yang told the Herald on Tuesday he didn't name the Air Force Engineering University or Luoyang People's Liberation Army University of Foreign Languages when making the applications that led to New Zealand citizenship, which he was granted in 2004.

He instead gave the names of two Chinese universities for civilians that had "partnership" status with the military institutions where he taught intelligence agency cadets as an English lecturer.

Asked if he made a false declaration on his citizenship application, Yang said giving the name of "partnership" universities instead of the institutes he actually worked and studied at was not a false declaration and was required if he was to leave China.