‘100 years of solitude’: Chinese state media threatens Australia after ScoMo-Trump meeting

China’s state media has issued a grim warning to Australia, warning our ties to the United States will bring “long-term” consequences.

China’s state media has warned Australia risks “100 years of solitude” if it continues to strengthen military ties with the United States.

In an opinion piece published by Beijing’s Global Times newspaper, academic Yu Lei said: “This Australia-US alliance will not bring the benefits Australia hopes for. This will bring a long-term military and political confrontation between Australia and Asian countries.”

“Australia will not get the 100 years of friendship but 100 years of solitude,” the Australian Financial Review quoted him saying.

The threat appeared to be in response to Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s remark that his recent Washington visit would be the beginning of “another 100 years” of friendship with the United States.

During their meeting, President Donald Trump said China was a “threat to the world”.

Asked for his view on the rising superpower, Mr Trump told reporters: “Well, obviously, China is a threat to the world in a sense, because they’re building a military faster than anybody, and, frankly, they’re using US money.”

Scott Morrison and Donald Trump met over the weekend in Washington, symbolising a strengthening of US-Australia ties. Picture: John Minchillo/AP

The US leader said he wanted to settle the damaging trade dispute between Washington and Beijing, but noted he needed a “complete deal” from President Xi Jinping, not a partial deal.

“China wants to make a deal. I think we want to make a deal. We’ll see what happens.”

Mr Morrison said Australia was keen for China and the US to solve the dispute, but noted Mr Trump was attempting to implement measures that would “put global trade on a stronger footing”.

During the visit, Mr Trump lauded his “very special relationship” with Mr Morrison.

The US leader spoke about his relationships with the current Prime Minister and his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull.

“I like Malcolm very much … I really think they’re both very good people,” Mr Trump told Sky News on Sunday night. “But I’ve developed a very special relationship with Scott, he’s a great gentleman.

“He had the kind of election that I had, so we have something in common. It was a little bit of a surprise and it was a very big victory.”

Mr Trump earlier dubbed Mr Morrison a “man of titanium” when they met at the White House.