Chinese state media goads Scott Morrison after 'inexplicable' act
Chinese state media wasted no time in taking aim at exiting Australian prime minister Scott Morrison, accusing him of overseeing "the most inexplicable phenomenon of international relations in recent years".
While the Chinese embassy in Canberra or China's foreign ministry has yet to officially react to Anthony Albanese's victory, the nationalistic Global Times, a renowned mouthpiece of Beijing, savaged Mr Morrison in the latest in a long line of editorials focusing on Australian politics.
While it took aim at the Coalition's "anti-China crusade", the Global Times felt particularly aggrieved by Mr Morrison's move to destroy relations which prior to Mr Morrison, had proven beneficial for both countries for five decades.
"Australia's sudden turn to a hawkish anti-China stance is the most inexplicable phenomenon of international relations in recent years," it said.
"China and Australia are thousands of miles apart. There are no territorial disputes or historical grievances between the two countries.
"However, this stable and mutually beneficial situation had been severely damaged by the Australian side in just a couple of years, which is lamentable."
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The Global Times said it was clear the Australian public had seen through the Coalition's hype of China's threat to its national security, a tactic that was driven largely by outgoing Defence Minister Peter Dutton.
"In recent years Canberra has provided the world with a negative example of how to deal with China," it said.
Beijing will be watching on closely as Mr Albanese heads off to the latest Quad meeting with leaders from the US, Japan and India. Recent meets have largely focused on China's growing influence particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
Beijing has repeatedly expressed its concerns over Australia's alignment with the US, with all eyes on US President Joe Biden and Mr Albanese in the coming days.
Chinese state media's message to Albanese
And while just two days ago the Global Times said China had no expectations over decimated Sino-Australian relations under Mr Albanese, it offered a more optimistic outlook on Sunday, wishing the Labor leader and his government act with "rationality".
"In considering Australia's own interests, any Australian leader should keep the strategic sobriety to at least achieve a balance between the country's practical development and security. China's rise shouldn't be viewed by Australia as a "threat." Nor should differences in political system become an obstacle to the development of friendly ties between the two countries."
Sharing the editorial to Chinese Twitter-like site Weibo early Monday morning, the Global Times was accused of being "naive" in its expectations.
"Australia has been a dog for the US for a long time," one person said.
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