Australia PM seeks ‘happy coexistence’ with China after war crimes tweet row

Scott Morrison had expressed anger after a Chinese official tweeted a doctored image of an Australian soldier, but took a softer tone on Thursday

China’s Global Times criticised New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern for backing Australia, claiming ‘Kiwis bleat like Aussie sheep but don’t condemn Afghan killings’

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the relationship with China is a ‘mutually beneficial one’ and he seeks constructive engagement. Photo: DPA

Associated PressandThe New Zealand Herald

Published: 8:00pm, 3 Dec 2020Updated: 8:00pm, 3 Dec 2020

A diplomatic war of words between Australia and China over a graphic tweet seemed to finally cool on Thursday as Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison struck a much more conciliatory tone.

Morrison’s change in approach came even after he was thwarted in getting his views out directly to Chinese people over the messaging app WeChat, after the company deleted his post on the grounds it could distort historical events and confuse the public.

Earlier this week, Morrison expressed indignation and anger at the tweet posted by a Chinese official that showed a fake image of a grinning Australian soldier holding a bloodied knife to a child’s throat. The post took aim at alleged unlawful killings and abuses by Australian soldiers during the conflict in Afghanistan.

Morrison called the tweet “truly repugnant” and “deeply offensive” and demanded an apology from China. But China did not back down, saying that Australia should be the one examining its actions.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying on Thursday declined to comment further on the controversy, and told reporters at a daily briefing that WeChat’s management had their “own rules and regulations”.