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A doctored photo of an Australian soldier slitting the throat of an Afghan child faces Beijing and Canberra again

2020-12-01T02:07:27.375Z


Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison demands an apology after a Chinese spokesman posted a tweet with the image


Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Tokyo this month.Kiyoshi Ota / AP

Relations between China and Australia, one of the main suppliers of raw materials to the Asian giant, continue their dangerous deterioration, amid almost daily reproaches and reprisals.

This Monday, the trigger for the new outbreak was a doctored photograph that a Chinese spokesman posted on his Twitter profile, in which an Australian soldier appears about to cut the throat of an Afghan child.

The Prime Minister in Canberra, Scott Morrison, has demanded that the government in Beijing remove this "disgusting" image.

In the photo, the soldier smiles as he holds a bloody knife to the throat of a boy who, in turn, is holding a white goat.

An Australian flag and an Afghan flag are seen on the ground, the latter divided into puzzle pieces.

In one corner of the image is the phrase "do not be afraid, we bring you peace!"

Tweeting it, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian includes the comment "shocked by the killing of Afghan civilians and prisoners by Australian soldiers."

His message has sparked enormous unrest in Australia, where some lawmakers have called for diplomatic retaliation.

Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers.

We strongly condemn such acts, & call for holding them accountable.

pic.twitter.com/GYOaucoL5D

- Lijian Zhao 赵立坚 (@ zlj517) November 30, 2020

The Chinese spokesperson's tweet made reference to an official Australian report, made public on the 19th, which indicates that Australian elite forces illegally killed 39 civilians and prisoners in Afghanistan during their deployment to that country between 2005 and 2016. The The Australian Army has recommended the investigation of 36 alleged war crimes and has begun procedures for the expulsion of thirteen soldiers.

"We strongly condemn these acts and hold them accountable," Zhao added in his tweet.

This spokesman already starred in a serious diplomatic friction between the United States and China in March by echoing in this social network a theory, without foundation, that accuses American soldiers of bringing the coronavirus to Wuhan during the military games that were held in that city in October of last year.

Morrison has demanded an apology from the Chinese Foreign Ministry and has asked Twitter to withdraw the spokesman's message.

"It is completely scandalous and cannot be justified in any way," he said.

"It is a false photo and a terrible slander against our magnificent Armed Forces and the men and women who have worn that uniform for the last hundred years."

The Chinese government, however, has ignored the demands.

Beijing's chief foreign spokesperson, Hua Chunying, has reiterated her colleague's accusations at the ministry's daily press conference.

"The Australian side has reacted so harshly to my colleague's tweet, does that mean they think the cold-blooded killing of innocent Afghan civilians is justified, while the conviction of other people for such crimes is not?"

The incident is the latest in a growing series between the two countries, major trading partners.

Although ties have been strained for years, in 2020 they have deteriorated dramatically since Australia demanded an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic that grips the world and that had its first focus in the city of Wuhan, in central China.

Canberra has also excluded Chinese tech giant Huawei from its 5G network.

In turn, Beijing has imposed various pressure measures against Australian products such as beef, iron ore or wood, from the suspension of imports to the imposition of punitive tariffs, through lengthy customs inspections.

Last week it announced customs duties against Australian wine of more than 200%, a measure that has already raised a cry from the Morrison government.

In September, the last two Australian correspondents stationed in China had to leave the country hastily for fear of arrest.

Another Australian journalist of Chinese origin remains under arrest.

Beijing has denied any responsibility for the deterioration of ties, instead sending the Australian government a list of 14 grievances that it demands Canberra remedy.

Among them are the criticisms of Australian think tanks and media against China.

Source: elparis

All news articles on 2020-12-01

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