China says Australia should “face up to its problems” and protect Chinese nationals after its warnings to citizens not to travel or study in Australia due to “racist incidents” were rejected by the Australian Government.
Key points:
- China’s Foreign Ministry said Australia needed to “take concrete measures” to protect Chinese nationals
- Australian universities say accusations campuses are unsafe are not true
- Foreign Minister Marise Payne rejects China’s “disinformation”
Australian ministers have dismissed the warnings, which were issued by China’s education and tourism ministries over the past week, as “rubbish” and “disinformation” contributing to a “climate of fear”.
On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the warnings were “based on a host of facts”, citing media stories and complaints to China’s embassy in Australia.
“We advise Australia to face up to its problems, do some soul-searching and take concrete measures to protect the safety, rights and interests of Chinese nationals in Australia,” Ms Hua said at a press conference.
