China labels Australia’s COVID-19 win a ‘joke’

China has slammed claims it backed down and Australia had a victory over the probe into COVID-19 as a “joke” in the latest war of words.

China has slammed claims it backed down and Australia had a victory over the probe into COVID-19 as a “joke”.

In the latest diplomatic war of words between the two nations, the Chinese embassy has lashed out at claims it has backed down over the investigation under international pressure.

“The draft resolution on COVID-19 to be adopted by the World Health Assembly (WHA) is totally different from Australia’s proposal of an independent review,” a spokesman said.

“A close look at the draft itself can easily come to such a conclusion.

“All those who know the consultation process that led to the resolution understand this.

“To claim the WHA’s resolution is a vindication of Australia’s call is nothing but a joke.”

US President Donald Trump has backed Australia’s push for a World Health Organisation (WHO) probe into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We are with them,” he said as he retweeted an SBS News tweet on the growing global support for Australia’s bid for an inquiry.

Australia and the European Union’s motion demands an independent inquiry into the Chinese origin of COVID-19 “at the earliest appropriate moment”.

However, China’s President Xi Jinping said the review should be led by WHO and undertaken only after the pandemic is under control.

Addressing the WHA by videolink late on Monday Mr Xi said: “China supports the idea of a comprehensive review of the global response to COVID-19 after it is brought under control, to sum up experiences and deficiencies.”

The latest diplomatic stoush follows China’s decision overnight to slap Australia with punitive 80 per cent tariffs on barley imports.

The US has backed Scott Morrison’s call for the probe.

China’s Department of Commerce announced the decision less than an hour after President Xi announced to the World Health Assembly his conditional support for a COVID probe.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese also raised concerns today about the news that Australia’s ally, the United States, is stepping in to exploit the new opportunity to export barley to China.

“The Australian Government should be pursuing with the US what the circumstances are behind the agreement between China and the US for access to China for US agriculture, and whether that has disadvantaged Australia, and we should be pursuing that on behalf of our farmers,’’ he said.

“With regard to trade, it would appear that this is unfair treatment of Australian barley farmers by China and the Government should be giving that consideration. And Labor would support taking action at the WTO, the World Trade Organisation, to hold China to account on this. The imposition of 80 per cent tariffs is an extraordinary decision.”

Last week, the US announced it was opening the door to a new potential market for U.S. barley in China, just as the Chinese Government threatened to hit Australia with new tariffs.

“After much hard work and many years, we are pleased that China is open to U.S. barley imports and what they could mean for barley farmers and malt producers in our country,” US Grains Council President and Chief Executive Officer Ryan LeGrand said.

“We appreciate the teamwork shown by industry and governments to make this happen.”