China-Australia spat escalates over demand for probe into COVID-19 origin
Scott Morrison
The relations between Australia and China have worsened after Australia demanded an inquiry into the origin of COVID-19.
China got furious after Australian prime minister Scott Morrison called for an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus.
The Chinese ambassador, Cheng Jingye, asked the citizens of his country to boycott Australian beef, wine and universities. He even asked them to stop visiting Australia.
Cheng Jingye had a phone conversation with the Secretary of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat). The exchange, reportedly, was not pleasant.
Following which, the Chinese embassy then released a statement detailing what it said was discussed on the call, prompting another rebuke from DFAT.
The statement describes the demand for probe as a "political maneuver". In diplomacy, backroom conversations are rarely released to the media, but Australia-China ties are on the verge of a total breakdown.
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Australia has issued a response, expressing regret over the fact that China breached protocol.
In a no mood to let this go, angered China issued a counter-statement, saying on its website that details of the call had first been "obviously leaked by some Australian officials."
"The Embassy of China doesn't play petty tricks, this is not our tradition. But if others do, we have to reciprocate," the statement said.
Even the Chinese state media has jumped in. Hu Xijin, the editor of Global Times wrote this on Weibo: "Australia is always there, making trouble. It is a bit like chewing gum stuck on the sole of china's shoes.
Beijing wants to do everything it can, to undermine Australia's demand for an international investigation. China says the demands for an investigation are destined to fail, butAustralia is quietly working behind the scenes to build international support to make China pay.