China’s racist assault claims slapped down

Labor joins growing chorus rejecting China’s extraordinary allegations against Australia.

Chinese tourists have been told to stay away from Australia over the risk of racist attacks. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

China’s warning to its citizens to stay away from Australia over the risk of racist attacks is a mark of how difficult the relationship between the two countries has become, Labor’s deputy leader says.

Richard Marles has backed Trade Minister Simon Birmingham’s rejection of the accusation — made by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism — that Australians have attacked Chinese people over the coronavirus pandemic.

In a travel advisory issued on Friday night, the Chinese government warned of “an alarming increase recently in acts of racial discrimination and violence against Chinese and Asians in Australia due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Mr Marles said Australia needed to take the statement on face value.

“I don’t think that that fairly describes where Australia is at,” Mr Marles told the ABC on Sunday.

“I mean, we’re clearly not free from the issue of racism, and I’m sure that there are Chinese Australians who have been on the receiving end of that. But I think the way in which that statement is framed does not accurately describe where Australia is at.”

Senator Birmingham was quick to slap down the allegations on Saturday, saying they had no basis in fact.

.@RichardMarlesMP says Australia should consider "very seriously" offering safe haven visas to Hong Kong residents. #insiders #auspol pic.twitter.com/iNNP7hW98u

— Insiders ABC (@InsidersABC) June 7, 2020

“Our rejection of these claims, which have been falsely made by Chinese officials previously, is well known to them.”

But Mr Marles accused the government of mishandling the relationship with China, on which

hundreds of thousands of Australian jobs depended.

“What this ultimately raises is the relationship between Australia and China has not been tracking in a very good direction for the last few years. Well before COVID happened, well before there was a call from the Australian government around seeking an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus. It is a completely complex relationship.

“This is a relationship which has to be dealt with properly and taken seriously. And we’ve got a government and leaders in it who are often absent in the debate.”

Asked whether Australia should offer safe haven visas to people from Hong Kong who wanted to flee as a result of new Chinese security laws, Mr Marles said the government should consider it.

“If ultimately we are called upon to provide assistance in this moment, then I think that’s a call that we need to take very seriously.”

On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said China’s travel warning was a moot point, given there was no travel between China and Australia anyway as a result of COVID-19.

He said he also believed the allegations were made on “false information”.

“There hasn’t been a wave of outbreaks of violence against Chinese people,” he said in Queanbeyan on Saturday.