China has doubled down on its threats to Australia with a warning of ‘lasting punishments’ over the trade rift (Pictured: Scott Morrison)
China has warned Australia of ‘lasting punishments’ if the nation continues to criticise the authoritarian regime, as the trade stoush between the countries intensifies.
The warning was issued in an editorial piece by the Global Times, a mouthpiece for the communist government, after relations between both nations hit a new low this week.
It comes as US president-elect Joe Biden‘s national security advisor vowed the country would stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ with its Australian ally.
The latest attack by Beijing said it had no reason to ‘appease Australia’, claiming the Morrison government was ‘not a ruling team that is serious and trustworthy in relations with China’.
It comes alongside a new cartoon from the Chinese state newspaper’s editor, Hu Xijiin, showing an Australian soldier posing with ‘human rights’ sign while standing atop a hidden corpse.
The Global Times, a mouthpiece for the communist government, has published multiple editorials taking aim at Australia and its fast deteriorating trade relationship with Beijing
‘If Australia’s values do not include respect for a country with a population of 1.4 billion, Chinese society will help the Australians establish such a concept, regardless of how long it will take. We have enough patience,’ the article read.
‘Chinese society strongly advocates resolute and lasting punishments against Australia and to let the world see clearly – one will eventually pay a price for taking the US side and requiting kindness with ingratitude toward China.’
The newspaper has followed up the attack with another new piece labeling the Australian leader ‘arrogant and narcissistic’.
Relations between China and Australia have been fast deteriorating with Beijing imposing increasingly punitive tariffs on a growing list of Australian exports including coal, timber, copper, beef, meat, lobsters and barley.
China’s simmering anger was inflamed in 2018 when Australia banned Chinese tech giant Huawei from Australia’s 5G mobile rollout on national security grounds.
This was further compounded when Prime Minister Scott Morrison in April called for an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus, an outbreak which began in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
This image, shared online by a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, is what first sparked the latest diplomatic row – falsely showing an Australian soldier slitting a child’s throat
Relations hit a new low on Monday when China’s foreign ministry spokesman sparked fury by tweeting a mocked-up image of a digger threatening to kill an Afghan child.
Mr Morrison called the image ‘repugnant’ and demanded an apology – but Beijing refused.
The communist party newspaper then shared a new image by the same artist attacking the prime minister.
The image shows Mr Morrison covering a dead body in a war zone while telling a painter – which represents China – to ‘apologise’.
The Global Times, a mouthpiece for the communist government, shared the image depicting the Australian prime minister in a war zone, pointing at a child screaming ‘apologise!’
The Global Times also published a cartoon (pictured) by artist Chen Xia showing a kangaroo with bloody hands next to a knife soaked in blood
The computer-generated image reflects Beijing’s view that Mr Morrison should focus on a recent war crimes report – which contained allegations that 25 Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners – rather than directing his anger to China.
The newspaper published a new piece calling the Australian leader ‘arrogant and narcissistic’.
‘Some Australian politicians believe it is the West’s unique power and right to accuse a country of killing innocent lives and trampling on human rights,’ the article read.
‘Even if they have problems in this regard, only they can criticize themselves, but they believe it is not Chinese diplomats’ right to express their shock over Australian soldiers’ atrocities on Twitter.
‘Their moral arrogance and narcissism are deeply ingrained.’
The article went on to take aim at the US and its ‘Five Eyes’ allies after they vowed to stand by Australia.
‘Why do Chinese officials have to mind their words each and every time and prioritize the feelings of the other side? Given the increasingly hostile and radical attitude toward China by countries like the US and Australia, Chinese officials might as well go straightforward and hit their sore spots,’ the article read.
‘Since they have adopted a fiercer attitude toward China, countries such as the US and Australia must be prepared to face the justifiably unfriendly reaction of the Chinese people. The Chinese public need not be surprised to see the storm of words between China and the US and Australia.’
As tensions continue to flare, the incoming Biden administration has vowed to stand with Australia.
Joe Biden’s designated national security adviser Jake Sullivan said: ‘The Australian people have made great sacrifices to protect freedom and democracy around the world.
The Global Times editor Hu Xijin told the Australian prime minister to ‘slap himself in the face’ and ‘kowtow to apologise to Afghans’ in response to Mr Morrison’s demand for an apology
‘As we have for a century, America will stand shoulder to shoulder with our ally Australia and rally fellow democracies to advance our shared security, prosperity, and values.’
China has recently held up Australia’s coal and seafood exports and last week put a 200 per cent tariff on Aussie wine despite the two countries signing a free trade deal in 2015.
Earlier this year Beijing slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley, suspended beef imports and told students and tourists not to travel Down Under.
‘There are undoubtedly tensions that exist between China and Australia, but this is not how you deal with them,’ Mr Morrison said.
Related Post
