“Arrogant hypocrites”: Chinese media's new attack on Australia with disturbing cartoon
China has continued its relentless criticism against Australia’s outrage with another shocking cartoon that was shared by Chinese state media.
The disturbing graphic shows a bloodied kangaroo which is portraying military murder.
The Chinese artist Fu Yu – known as Wuheqilin has spoken out about the disturbing graphic that first received fury from SCOMO.
He spoke out about the original doctored image, posting a video from Beijing Capital International Airport where he advised Mr Morrison to “face reality”.
In his new column for the Global Times, he said: “I am the one who illustrated the cartoon that pissed off Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
“It is totally hard to believe that a head of state like Morrison got totally bent out shape about my computer graphics work. I am flabbergasted that he even organised a press conference to fume about it.”
The artist said he created the image, which he labels a cartoon, on the night of November 22.
Earlier this week, the faked image was published to Twitter by China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, who said he was “shocked by murder of Afghan civilians and prisoners by Australian soldiers”.
It has led to global outrage and criticism against Beijing.
“Morrison called my cartoon ‘fabricated’,” Wuheqilin wrote.
“Some overseas netizens claimed it was doctored. I’d like to tell them that their focus should not be on whether or not it is a real picture or an artistic creation. It is an incident embedded in a cartoon.”
The latest cartoon depicting a bloodied kangaroo in a suit with a bloodied knife next to it, was created by a different artist, Chen Xia.
The publication posted a series of tweets overnight about Australia, with one including a graphic listing Australia’s alleged war crimes.
The tweets have been simply flagged: “China state-affiliated media.”
In the latest Global Times piece defending Wuheqilin, writer Yu Luxu said: “A cartoon is cartoon. It is not a photo. So how can it be ‘faked’ as Morrison and some Australian outlets claim?
“Cartoon has characteristics that exaggerate some points with an emphasis on artistic expression and visual shock. This is very common around the world. This is far from fabricating facts. Still, Wuheqilin’s work is based on facts.”
The article went on to demand Mr Morrison and the Australian Government to “take full responsibility for the deteriorating relationship with China”.
It further claimed “Australia exaggerated and distorted Zhao’s comment and use of cartoon over the crime of Australian troops”, calling it “a false image”.
“The country that owes an apology is Australia – to China. And to Afghanistan first and foremost for slaughtering their innocent people.
“It should also apologise to the Chinese artist, whose work was groundlessly smeared as a ‘false image’.
“It needs to seriously reassess the damage done its own international optics caused by this double standard outburst regarding ‘freedom of speech’ and ‘human rights’.”