Insults, warnings of a Cold War and calls to suspend trade are all par for the course in the Chinese media.
The latest editorial from China Daily this month blasted Australia’s as it warned Canberra about its alliance with the United States and Japan.
It joins a string of strongly-worded editorials from Chinese media outlets this year which have threatened Australia over its foreign policy positions, especially on Pacific aid and the South China Sea dispute.
What is the Chinese media saying?
The opinion pages of Chinese outlets, including The People’s Daily, Xinhua, China Daily and The Global Times are littered with criticisms and threats to Australia.
Last week, the China Daily accused Australia of “jumping on the US bandwagon to contain China” after it announced joint military exercises with Japan. It warned that could “create a fragile peace that risks being shattered by the slightest misstep”.
Tabloid The Global Times is the most vocal. It accused Canberra in May of having an “arrogant attitude” and called “to cut a few imports from Australia”.
Source: China Daily
“Australia’s image among Chinese people has grown increasingly negative due to its warped accusations hurled at China,” it said.
“It is necessary for China to leave Australia hanging for a while.”
How serious are the comments?
Deakin University’s international relations expert Chengxin Pan told SBS News the articles needed to be put into context.
“The tones are not always diplomatic and sometimes appear a bit childish,” he said.
“We need not take specific words very seriously ... but the general sentiment should be taken more seriously.”
That’s because Chinese state media, including the Global Times, is heavily influenced by the ruling Communist Party.
Source: Global Times
“They act as the mouthpiece of the CCP,” Chinese media researcher Jian Xu, also from Deakin University, said.
“The publication of the English version of GT since 2009 is a part of the ‘Chinese media going out initiative’, aiming to compete with overseas media on reporting China’s domestic and international issues.”
Why is Australia the target?
As the Global Times noted, “Sino-Australia relations have remained on a steady downward slope since last year due to distorted reporting … on China’s alleged interference and infiltration in Australian internal affairs.”
The issue of Chinese interference in Australia was thrust into the spotlight late last year. Former Labor senator Sam Dastyari came under intense scrutiny because of his relationship with a wealthy Chinese political donor, and then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull introduced foreign interference legislation to Parliament, sparking a national conversation about its extent and the culprits.
A cartoon from China Daily in April, 2018 (China Daily) Source: Li Min / China Daily
While Mr Turnbull never explicitly pointed to China, he did concede there was ‘tension’ in the relationship.
Australia’s criticisms of Chinese aid to Pacific nations and its position on the South China Sea have also attracted anger.
“China is quite sensitive about foreign perceptions of its behaviour and its foreign policy,” Associate Professor Pan said.
“Australia’s concerns about Chinese influence in the South Pacific, from their point-of-view, seems to be playing into this China threat narrative.”
And, the decision to deny Chinese telco Huawei from the 5G rollout in August, was similarly received.
“Those who willfully hurt Chinese companies with an excuse of national security will meet their nemesis.”
It’s not just the media
But it’s not just the Chinese media which is critical of the Australian government. Earlier this month the Chinese embassy Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells of “invective and blatant slander”.
Senator Fierravanti-Wells, a former Pacific minister, had written her opinion piece denouncing China’s “debt trap diplomacy” in the Pacific.
“The ridiculous and absurd allegation, filled with Cold War mentality, reflected the senator’s prejudice, arrogance and ignorance,” a statement from ambassador Cheng Jingye said.
But, a new prime minister and foreign minister in Australia could see a change in tone.
“The Chinese media tend to pin hope on a new administration. The Morrison Government might give them some kind of brief hope or opportunity to watch how Australia takes the next step towards China,” Professor Pan said.
“This could be an opportunity for both sides to reset the relationship.”
