[ad_1]
SYDNEY (Reuters) – China’s embassy in Australia said politicians had “misinterpreted” a tweet showing a digitally altered image of an Australian soldier holding a bloody knife to the throat of an Afghan boy and that they were trying to stoke the nationalism.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday called the tweet posted by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian “truly disgusting” and asked for an apology.
On Tuesday, the tweet was placed at the top of Zhao’s social media account, and China’s Global Times newspaper, known for its nationalist views, interviewed the Chinese artist who created the image.
“The anger and roar of some Australian politicians and media is nothing more than a misinterpretation and overreaction to Mr Zhao’s tweet,” the Chinese embassy in Canberra said in a statement on Tuesday.
Australia’s Foreign and Trade Secretary called Ambassador Cheng Jingye on Monday to complain about the post on social media, he confirmed, adding that Cheng “refuted the unwarranted allegations as absolutely unacceptable.”
Australia sought to “stoke national nationalism” and “divert public attention from the horrific atrocities committed by certain Australian soldiers,” he said.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said early Tuesday that New Zealand has raised concerns with Chinese authorities over the use of the “non-factual” image of the soldier.
An independent investigation into war crimes allegations by Australian special forces in Afghanistan found that 39 unarmed prisoners and civilians were killed, and Australia has said 19 soldiers will be referred for possible criminal prosecution.
Morrison apologized to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ahead of the release of the investigation report a fortnight ago.
The incendiary tweet came just days after China effectively blocked a 1.2 billion Australian dollar ($ 883.44 million) wine export industry by imposing dumping duties of up to 200% on Australian wine.
Australia has said there appears to be a pattern of Chinese trade sanctions against Australian products this year, linked to diplomatic complaints from Beijing about Australia’s decisions on national security, human rights and foreign policy.
(Reporting by Kirsty Needham; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
[ad_2]
