China mouthpiece slams Australian PM demanding Beijing's apology for accusing its soldiers

Amid worsening relations between China and Australia, Chinese Foreign Ministry on Monday shared a 'doctored im' of an alleged Australian war crime in Afghanistan. This did t go well with Australia, which in a sharp rebuke, said that Chinese Communist government should be totally ashamed of 'truly offensive' post, Sydney Morning Herald reported.

In his strongest comments against Chinese government since he became Prime Minister, Morrison said that post diminishes China in world's eyes and demanded an apology from Ministry of Foreign Affairs. " Chinese government should be totally ashamed of this post. It diminishes m in world's eyes," he said. "It is an absolutely outrous and disgusting slur. Australia is seeking an apology from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we are seeking it be removed from Twitter," he was quoted by Herald.

'It is ridiculous and shameless'

w, Editor of Chinese Communist Party's official mouthpiece Hu Xijin has slammed Morrison and defended 'cartoon' shared by Spokesperson of Chinese FM. Taking to Twitter he said that "it is popular that condemns Australian Force's brutal murder of 39 Afghan civilians."

"On what ground does Morrison feel angry over use of this cartoon by spokesperson of Chinese FM? It’s ridiculous and shameless that he demanded China to apologize," stooge said in a tweet. 

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian shared im on Twitter Monday morning in which a special forces soldier is seen slitting throat of an Afghan child with a knife and its head wrapped in an Australian flag. "Don't be afraid we are coming to bring you peace," im states. Zhao Lijian tweeted that he was shocked by murder of Afghan civilians and prisoners by Australian soldiers.

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post comes at a time when Australia is facing criticism after government-initiated Brereton report found Australian special forces soldiers allegedly committed 39 murders in Afghanistan. Chinese Communist Party last week criticised Australia over post.

Bilateral relations between two countries have rapidly deteriorated this year after Australia led calls for an investigation into origins of Coronavirus pandemic, and ongoing discussion about Beijing's alleged interference in Australian affairs. Earlier this month, China's embassy in Australia circulated a list to local media outlets highlighting 14 policy areas where y said Australia had acted in a way that aggravated relations. Australia has said it will t change its policy positions.

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(With ncy inputs)