Malcolm Turnbull weighs in on “bully” China: “Never seen anything like it”
Former Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull has weighed in on the rift with China, and urged the government to “not give in to this bully.”
The two nations have had a tense relationship over the last week, after China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian shared a disturbing doctored image showing an Australian soldier slitting the throat of an Afghan child.
The post was slammed as “repugnant” by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and resulted in the two leaders combatting with words.
This led to another disturbing cartoon released by state-run news organisation The Global Times, that featured Mr Morrison and Australia’s alleged war crimes.
Mr Turnbull gave a word of advice to the government on Thursday, telling 9News "we just need to let the temperature lower or at least do nothing to raise it ourselves”.
An official from the Chinese embassy has reportedly given the media outlet a list of 14 grievances, which includes several of Turnull’s own policies, including foreign interference laws that “targeted China” and banning Huawei from the rollout of the 5G network.
Mr Turnbull blasted the list as "utterly counterproductive” and “not acceptable”, before saying the best thing to do with that list was “bin it”.
"There's a reason why governments don't conduct themselves in this way," he said.
"I've never seen anything like it before.”
Mr Turnbull said China’s behaviour only hurt their own image and urged Australia not to give in to playground antics.
"The one thing you can guarantee will see more bullying is if you start giving in to bullies,” he said.
"Is this style of diplomacy increasing China's influence around the world? No, it's diminishing it.
"Australians can see there is transparently, plain bullying, attempted bullying going on.
“The government's obviously got to respond to this astutely and carefully but it certainly shouldn't be giving into this bully or any others."