China hits back at Australia for ‘disinformation’ accusations
China has criticised Foreign Minister Marise Payne’s claims the communist nation is spreading disinformation online for its own gain – and has accused Australia of doing the same thing.
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China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman has criticised Marise Payne’s accusations of the communist country spreading “disinformation” online to undermine western democracies during the coronavirus pandemic, and accused Australia for doing the same thing.
Zhao Lijian spoke publicly and to Chinese media after Australia’s Foreign Minister said it was “troubling that some countries are using the pandemic to undermine liberal democracy and promote their own, more authoritarian models”, and disinformation from the Chinese government could include warnings for tourists and students to reconsider travelling to Australia because of racism.
“I can say emphatically that Australia will welcome students and visitors from all over the world, regardless of race, gender or nationality,” she said.
Ms Payne’s comments followed a European Commission report last week concluding Russia and China were the main culprits in carrying out targeted online disinformation campaigns.
They also followed Twitter last week revealing it had removed more than 32,000 “political propaganda” accounts linked to the Chinese, Russian and Turkish governments for violations of its platform.
In response, Zhao said: “The issuance of travel advisory and study alert on Australia based on a host of facts is part of the Chinese government’s responsibility and obligation to safeguard the lawful rights and interests of its citizens including students.
“We are talking about the plain fact of existing discrimination and violence in Australia, but this Australian official labelled it as ‘disinformation’.
“Then may I ask what about the rights and interests and feelings of those victims?
“To be candid, we don’t think it is ‘in Australia’s best long-term interests’ when certain people, acting out of their own political interests, choose to turn away from facts and engage in politicising the pandemic and sabotaging relevant international co-operation.”
GROWN-UP COUNTRIES TALK: BIRMINGHAM TAKES AIM AT CHINA
Australia is frustrated that China keeps rebuffing attempts to talk as tensions between the two countries continue to fizzle.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham – who hasn’t been able to get his Beijing counterpart on the phone in recent months – says openness is the only grown-up way to resolve differences.
“Whether we all like it or not, we share the same dynamic region of the world, the geography isn’t going to change,” he told the National Press Club in Canberra.
“To deal with differences, though, you do need to talk.
“Australia is ready and willing to have that mature, sensible dialogue that grown-ups have even when you have differences of opinion.”
His frank acknowledgment of his frustration comes on the heels of Foreign Minister Marise Payne warning that China, along with Russia, is using the heightened anxiety around the coronavirus to spread disinformation online.
“It is troubling that some countries are using the pandemic to undermine liberal democracy and promote their own, more authoritarian models,” Senator Payne said in a speech at the Australian National University’s National Security College.
“I can assure you that Australia will resist and counter efforts at disinformation.” Twitter last week revealed it had removed more than 32,000 “political propaganda” accounts linked to the Chinese, Russian and Turkish governments for violations of its platform.
Senator Payne described it as an “infodemic”.
Tensions with China have heightened since Australia started pursuing a World Health Organisation investigation into the origins of the coronavirus. China ultimately backed that investigation.
However, since Australia made the first push for the inquiry, China has slapped hefty tariffs on Australian barley, blocked certain beef imports and warned tourists and students not to travel to Australia because they say it’s unsafe and racist.
Senator Payne rejected those last warnings as more disinformation. A week ago, A Chinese court sentenced Australian Karm Gilespie to death over a 2013 drug arrest.
An opinion piece published in the state-owned Global Times this week said Australia had “chosen to act as a pawn of the US”.
“Australia’s mentality toward China has become increasingly irrational,” it said.
Senator Birmingham warned both countries needed each other, citing forecasts the barley tariff would hurt Chinese consumers tenfold more than Australian producers.
“It’s not a zero-sum game. We all win together or we all lose together,” he said.
FOREIGN MINISTER TAKES AIM AT CHINA OVER ‘DISINFORMATION’
Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne is warning “disinformation” is being spread by China and Russia online to undermine western democracies during the coronavirus pandemic.
During a speech at the Australian National University’s National Security College in Canberra last night, Ms Payne said it was “troubling that some countries are using the pandemic to undermine liberal democracy and promote their own, more authoritarian models”.
“The disinformation we have seen contributes to a climate of fear and division when, at a time like this, what we need is co-operation and understanding,” she said.
Ms Payne’s comments follow a European Commission report last week concluding Russia and China were the main culprits in carrying out targeted online disinformation campaigns “seeking to undermine democratic debate and exacerbate social polarisation, and improve their own image in the COVID-19 context”.
They also come as Twitter last week revealed it had removed more than 32,000 “political propaganda” accounts linked to the Chinese, Russian and Turkish governments for violations of its platform.
Ms Payne described it as an “infodemic”.
As a result, plans for a special unit within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to counter online campaigns spreading false information within Australia is underway, the ABC reported today.
The federal government has not confirmed this. However, Ms Payne said Australia respond to co-ordinated disinformation campaigns.
This follows Australia co-signing with 131 other countries and observers a Latvian-led statement warning the COVID-19 pandemic had “created conditions that enable the spread of disinformation, fake news and doctored videos to foment violence and divide communities” at the weekend.
“We will do so through facts and transparency, underpinned by liberal democratic values that we will continue to promote at home and abroad,” Ms Payne said, adding disinformation from the Chinese government could include warnings for tourists and students to reconsider travelling to Australia because of racism.
“I can say emphatically that Australia will welcome students and visitors from all over the world, regardless of race, gender or nationality,” she said.
BEIJING TO CHINESE STUDENTS: DON’T STUDY IN AUSTRALIA
Ms Payne’s comments follow Australia’s war of words with China over the coronavirus has taken a dramatic turn, with Beijing telling students in that country not to study in Australia.
International students studying in Australian universities bring in billions of dollars to the local economy every year.
But China’s Ministry of Education has warned its students against studying in Australia due to racism, in a major blow to the nation’s schools and already struggling universities.
Chinese education departments said students should be “cautious” in going to Australia because of racism, The Australian reports.
“The spread of the new global COVID-19 outbreak has not been effectively controlled, and there are risks in international travel and open campuses,” China’s Ministry of Education said in a statement.
“During the epidemic, there were multiple discriminatory incidents against Asians in Australia.”
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Chinese students are the number one source of foreign students in Australia and are worth $12bn to the nation’s education sector per year.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann rubbished the claims of a rise in racism.
“Australia is a successful multicultural society, we are a welcoming country, and we encourage all potential students who are considering higher education in a foreign country to come to Australia,” he said.
It is the latest retaliation by China against Australia’s calls for a global inquiry into how COVID-19 escaped Wuhan.
China recently stopped trading with major Australian meatworks, slapped an 80 per cent tariff on our barley and has mad threats to buy iron ore from Brazil instead of here.
The call for an education boycott comes as struggling Australian universities are lobbying China to lift its travel boycott, as a Beijing media outlet warns the move is the “tip of the iceberg” in a worsening relationship.
The International Education Association, and the Group of Eight – representing Australia’s top universities – are set to lobby the Chinese embassy in Canberra after a warning over the weekend that warned Chinese people to avoid Australia because of racists attacks, The Australian reports.
Australian universities already expect a $12 billion loss due to current restrictions on entries from China under conditions, and it’s likely the loss would increase if foreign students did not return once the COVID-19 pandemic lifts.
Originally published as China hits back at Australia for ‘disinformation’ accusations
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