Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says Australia will not give ground to China’s grievances

Australia’s relationship with China continues to sour. But Josh Frydenberg says the government won’t give in to Beijing’s list of grievances.

Australia will not give ground to China’s grievances despite the importance of the relationship with its largest trading partner, Josh Frydenberg says.

The Treasurer’s comments come after social media platform WeChat censored a message from Scott Morrison to the Chinese community.

“This is a challenging time in that important relationship with China,” Mr Frydenberg told ABC RN.

“If you look at that list of grievances that they outlined, on not one of those would we give ground.

“Our positions are well known and our positions have not changed. So lets see where things go.”

Tensions between Australia and Beijing have flared in the past week with Beijing slapping tariffs on Aussie wine imports, and China’s foreign ministry spokesman tweeted an inflammatory image about alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.

The prime minister on Monday called the post “repugnant”, which Mr Frydenberg said was a message to China on behalf of all Australians.

Beijing's foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian has posted a falsified image of an Australian soldier slitting the throat of a child and said China condemned the murder of Afghan civilians.

“(Australians) found that tweet very offensive,” Mr Frydenberg said.

“He made those views clear from the top of Australia’s political leadership.

“He also posted, as you know, on WeChat a message which made it very clear that despite the challenges in the relationship with China, it in no way diminishes our close relationship with the Chinese-Australian community, as well as our respect for the Chinese people.”

However, that message was removed from WeChat on Wednesday, the social media platform claiming it breached regulations and distorted historical events.

Mr Morrison said that WeChat could explain its actions.

But deputy Labor leader Richard Marles said it was regrettable that the message had been taken down.

“I do think the pulling down of the prime minister’s tweet was a significant moment,” Mr Marles said.

“It was an important tweet and it should have been allowed to be viewed.
“It is a platform which is extensively used by many Australians but it is really important that freedom of speech be central to the way in which social media, but all the media, operates in the context of our society.”

Five eyes allies have also condemned Beijing for spreading disinformation through “fabricated images and disingenuous statements”.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has criticised the government’s handling of the relationship.

“This government seems to have presided over a complete breakdown of relationship,” he told 2SM radio on Wednesday.

“The fact ministers can’t pick up the phone to each other, I find that extraordinary.”

But Mr Frydenberg accused Labor of ‘playing politics’ with the issue.

“We are willing to engage in a respectful dialogue but we also reserve our right to pursue those trade issues in multilateral forums,” he said.