China has once again taken a swipe at Australia, as China’s Global Times posted a cartoon mocking Australia’s allegiance to the US and UK.  

The cartoon was posted to China’s state-affiliated media channels, blasting Australia’s “arrogance and immaturity” as Scott Morrison withdraws support of the Beijing Winter Olympics.  

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison discussed the tension of the relationship between Australia and China and how the union is a cause for concern, as are the  ongoing human rights abuses against the Uyghur community in China’s Xinjiang region.  

“The human rights abuses in Xinjiang and many other issues that Australia has consistently raised, we have been very pleased and very happy to talk to the Chinese Government about these issues and there’s been no obstacle to that occurring on our side,” he said.

“But the Chinese Government has consistently not accepted those opportunities for us to meet about these issues.

“So it is not surprising, therefore, that Australian Government officials would, therefore, not be going to China for those Games. Australian athletes will, though.”

Australia has joined Canada, the United States and Britain in boycotting the games in the name of human rights.  

Following Scott Morrison’s announcement, the Global Times posted the mocking cartoons.  

A piece written for the communist party media also hit out at the decision, claiming Australia’s decision was “nothing but a joke”.

“Australia’s move is not surprising. As a Western country located in the southern hemisphere, the sense of insecurity grasps Australia so much that it needs a ‘big brother’ to follow,” the piece said.

“However, without even getting an invitation, the so-called boycott is nothing but a joke, Lü Xiang, director for research of the Chinese Institute of Hong Kong, told the Global Times.

“The Morrison government’s boycott decision exposed their arrogance and immaturity in dealing with geopolitics as the move brings no good to Australia or bilateral relations, Chen Hong, a professor and director of the Australian Studies Centre, East China Normal University, told the Global Times.”

Beijing issued a warning to the US, saying they would “pay the price” for its boycott, while accusing Parliament House of  “political posturing and selfish games” and “blindly following” Washington.

Image credits: Getty Images