Chinese newspaper brands Peter Dutton a ‘semi Trump’

China’s Global Times newspaper has attacked Peter Dutton as a “semi Trump” who has been ­accused of being a racist.

Former Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Picture: AAP

China’s Global Times newspaper has attacked Peter Dutton as a “semi Trump” who has been ­accused of being a racist.

In comments on its WeChat and its Chinese-language website, the populist arm of the Communist Party’s People’s Daily has described a situation in Australia as being where a “foreign government which annoys China from time to time has collapsed”.

It says it is “sick and disgusted” at claims by the Turnbull government that China had been infiltrating Australia.

It said Australia “used to be a sunny and unsophisticated country” but since Malcolm Turnbull had taken over his government had “fussed with China”.

It says Mr Turnbull and his government are “playing themselves to death” and describes Peter Dutton as “notorious”.

“He believes climate change is fabricated and mocked the island residents in the Pacific Ocean who are facing the loss of their homeland by climate change,” it said.

“He is also accused of being ‘racist’. Dutton can be regarded as a ‘semi Trump’. If such a person is to take charge of Australia, what outcome can be expected now?”

The Global Times comments had not been placed on its ­English language website but its comments will help influence popular Chinese views of Australia.

The comments come amid anger in China about the federal government’s move to effectively ban Huawei from being a supplier of telecommunications equipment for Australia’s 5G network.

On its English-language website, The Global Times criticises the ­decision as being a “huge loss for Australia’s 5G development” that would mean higher costs for the country in building and upgrading its telecommunications network.

It quotes Chinese experts as saying the decision to ban Huawei from the 5G network could add at least another 30 per cent to costs.

But so far, its harshest language on Australia has been via its WeChat site, which goes out to a massive domestic audience in China, a further sign that Australia-China ties could be set for another rocky period.