This was published 4 years ago
'Ridiculous': China accuses Australia of disinformation over travel warning
By Eryk Bagshaw
The Chinese embassy has accused the Australian government of disinformation and rebuked upgraded travel advice that warned foreigners in China that they may be arrested without evidence.
Labelling the claim ridiculous, a spokesman for the embassy in Canberra said as long as Australians abide by Chinese laws they have no need to worry.
The Chinese embassy in Canberra. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
"However, those who engage in illegal activities, such as drug smuggling or espionage, will be dealt with according to the laws in China, as is the case in all other countries," the spokesman said.
"We have noted Australia’s updated travel advice regarding China, which asserts that Australians may be at risk of arbitrary detention. This is completely ridiculous and disinformation."
Australian-Chinese academic Yang Hengjun was indicted on espionage charges in March after being imprisoned for 14 months. Canadian businessman Michael Spavor and former diplomat Michael Kovrig were also charged with espionage in June after Canada detained Huawei's chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou over allegations the company violated US sanctions on Iran.
Australian actor and motivational speaker Karm Gilespie remains in a Guangzhou jail after being sentenced to death in June for attempting to smuggle 7.5 kilograms of ice out of China.
The upgraded travel advice on Tuesday followed a similar warning for Hong Kong last week after Beijing implemented sweeping new national security laws designed to prevent and punish attempts to undermine the Chinese state.
DFAT last week told up to 100,000 Australians living in Hong Kong and those planning on travelling to the Chinese territory that new laws could be interpreted broadly. Residents have been warned by Hong Kong police that pro-independence chants, flags and blank pieces of paper raised in defiance, could be in violation of the new legislation.
"You can break the law without intending to," the department said. "The maximum penalty under this law in Hong Kong is life imprisonment."
China maintains the new Hong Kong laws are necessary to put an end to 15 months of protests over Beijing's increasing influence in the former British colony and restore business confidence.
Already strained bilateral relations between Australia and China have declined further during the coronavirus pandemic after trade strikes on beef and barley.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry warned students and tourists to reconsider travelling to Australia in June following reports of a spike in anti-Chinese discrimination after Australia called for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.
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