China attacks Scott Morrison’s ‘dangerous’ comments amid Russia Ukraine silence

Chinese officials have hit back after Scott Morrison criticised Beijing for remaining “chillingly silent” on Russian aggression toward Ukraine.

Chinese officials have accused Scott Morrison of “clamouring for confrontation” after the Prime Minister criticised Beijing for remaining “chillingly silent” on Russian aggression toward Ukraine.

Mr Morrison’s strong words have sparked criticism from Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, who on Monday night called the accusations “dangerous”.

“We urge the Australian side to abandon the Cold War mentality and ideological bias and stop making belligerent rhetoric that will escalate the tensions,” he told reporters in Beijing.

“Such acts of seeking selfish political gains by clamouring for confrontation are unethical and dangerous.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin has criticised Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Greg Baker/AFP

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has doubled down on his criticism of the Chinese Government for not calling out Russian aggression toward the Ukraine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

But Mr Morrison only intensified his attack on Tuesday, calling out the Chinese Government for hypocritically claiming to want peace, while saying nothing as Russian troops amassed on the Ukrainian border.

“When you have a large country, in our own region, that suggests they want peace and harmony and yet are not prepared to call out the actions of an autocratic state that wants to the violate the territorial sovereignty of their neighbour, then that is very concerning,” he said.

In a sign the crisis in eastern Europe may be extended for many weeks, Russia has begun sending thousands more troops to its border with Ukraine, as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the situation had become “very, very dangerous”.

Despite already having 100 battalions at the border, a force considered capable of launching an invasion, Russia on Tuesday sent a further 14 battalions, each with about 800 troops toward Ukraine.

It has been reported British ministers are of the view Russian President Vladimir Putin has not yet decided whether to attack Ukraine, but the build up of forces prompted Mr Johnson to cut short a trip to the English town of Cumbria to instead chair an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the threat.

This satellite image released by Maxar Technologies shows a closer view of a new helicopter unit in Belgorod, Russia on February 13. Picture: AFP

Russian forces are conducting large-scale military exercises in Belarus, across Ukraine's northern border, amid a tense diplomatic standoff between Russia and Ukraine's Western allies. Picture: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

Mr Johnson also spoke with US President Joe Biden, with Downing Street reporting the pair agreed there “remained a crucial window for diplomacy and for Russia to step back from its threats towards Ukraine”.

Australia has already ruled out sending troops to Europe, but is in constant talks with allies to impose sanctions that might weaken Russia’s resolve to invade.

US intelligence initially identified Wednesday as the likely day of an invasion, based on information believed to be sent to Russian battalions ordering they be ready by then.

However other analysts have speculated there was unlikely to be any movement until after the 2022 Winter Olympic Games end on February 20.