China warns to stop dialogue with Australia if it continues to refer China as

Beijing/Canberra: A senior Chinese official threatened that if Australia continues to take decisions believing that China is a military threat to Australia, the Chinese ministers and leaders will not even answer telephone calls, received from the Australian leaders. As per reports, this threat has been issued by an official in the Chinese embassy in Australia. The officials from the embassy accused Australia of being responsible for the strained relations between the two countries while speaking to a daily in Australia. At the same time, these officials blamed that Australia is still not willing to give up its Cold War mentality.

The tension between China and Australia, the main trading partners, has been surfacing since the last few years. The tensions already building over interference in the internal Australian politics and cyberattacks, heightened further riding on the Coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, Australia has adopted an aggressive stand against China, even in the matters relating to Hongkong, Taiwan and South China Sea. In the last one year, Australia has made three legislations, to stop the Chinese interference and has given indications of more legislations coming up. China is very perturbed with the aggressive Australian retaliation and has resorted to issuing direct threats.

Before this, in August, the officials in the Chinese embassy, while issuing a warning over the Coronavirus pandemic, had accused that Australia has betrayed China. Now this threat of stopping dialogue with the Australia leaders has been issued by the officials from the Chinese embassy. While issuing this threat, China also has demonstrated the callousness to put the entire blame of the strained relations between China and Australia on Australia. The official from the Chinese embassy warned ‘Australia should introspect and take steps to revive the crashing China-Australia relations. It is a saying that you cannot clap with one hand, but here the entire problem has been created only due to Australia. Australia seems to be handling the matters relating to China, with the cold war mentality. Australia should adopt a view that China is not a threat but an opportunity. If that does not happen then the foundation of China-Australia relations will collapse.’

Despite this warning from China, Australia has maintained its stand. Although no reaction has been received from Australia, the Australian Prime Minister had warned China only two days ago, in clear words. Prime Minister Morrison had lambasted ‘Australia will never compromise on freedom of expression, human rights and security bowing to the Chinese pressure. Australia will continue to remain Australia.’ Prime Minister Morrison had clarified that there would be no deviation in the Australian stand against China.