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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says New Zealand has directly expressed concern to China over a tweet criticizing Australia with a forged image.
Australia and China are in the middle of a dispute over a tweet by a senior Chinese official about the recent report on war crimes allegedly committed by Australian troops in Afghanistan.
The tweet featured a forged image of an Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of an Afghan boy.
FAKE IMAGES
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisson with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (File photo).
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison demanded an apology, calling it a “disgusting insult”. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying responded by saying Australia should apologize to the Afghan people.
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“What Australia needs to do is think deeply, bring the perpetrators to justice, formally apologize to the Afghan people and make a solemn promise to the international community that they will never again commit such terrible crimes,” Hua said.
New Zealand is in a difficult position, with its closest ally, Australia, locked in a war of words with its biggest trading partner, China.
SUPPLIED
The forged image shared by a Chinese official that has angered Australia.
Ardern said New Zealand had registered its “non-factual” image concern directly with China.
“I’ve seen some of the latest discussion about what a Twitter image was. New Zealand has registered directly with the Chinese authorities our concern about the use of that image, it was a non-factual publication and, of course, that would concern us, ”said Ardern.
“In this case, an image has been used that is not correct in fact, that is not a genuine image. So we have raised it directly with the Chinese authorities. “
Lukas Coch / AP
Morrison announced a new investigative agency to build criminal cases against Australian special forces suspected of committing war crimes in Afghanistan.
She said New Zealand did this independently in its own interest, and said she had not spoken to Morrison about the dispute.
“Consistent with our principled position, we will raise concerns and do so directly.”
National leader Judith Collins said she had not yet fully considered how New Zealand should react to the dispute.
“It’s not something I’ve ever turned my mind to … The government always needs to adopt an independent foreign policy,” Collins said.
“We’ve had a proud history for the last 30-odd years of trying to run independently, but understanding that, and I’ve always told people, one of the best things for New Zealand is having multiple business options as well. as our very good security options, ”Collins said.
He said that if the image was false, he agreed with Morrison that it was “disgusting.”
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, speaking to reporters at APEC’s inauguration, said New Zealand “does not support disinformation that tends to be inflammatory, both domestically and internationally.”
“We are happy to send a message to whoever and whoever,” he said.
Mahuta said he had not spoken to the Chinese ambassador to New Zealand about the comments and did not plan to do so.
“The statement I am making now is a public statement and I am sure it will be reported.”
National foreign affairs spokesman Gerry Brownlee said it was an “uncomfortable situation that is not at all comforting to anyone” and that “everyone should take a breather and move on a bit.”
“It was inappropriate for China to fix the Australian military photograph,” Brownlee said.
He said the dispute was concerning for New Zealand as it could get caught up in it.
Brownlee said New Zealand’s ties are stronger with Australia than with China.
An investigation by Australian authorities into allegations of war crimes by its soldiers found that there was substantial evidence behind the allegations of 39 unlawful killings of Afghan civilians. At least 19 former and current Australian soldiers are under investigation by the police.
