China says is supports Belarus President Lukashenko

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Thursday said China is opposed to "spreading false information under guise of academic research," after Chinese state media reported two Australian scholars were barred from entering country.

Earlier Thursday, Chinese Communist Party's English-langu newspaper Global Times cited unidentified sources in reporting two Australian scholars were banned from entering China but did t explain why.

report ted, however, Australia had revoked visas this month of two Chinese scholars.

Chen Hong and Li Jianjun were banned as part of an Australian crackdown on covert foreign interference in domestic politics and institutions.

two Australian scholars said Thursday y had intention of travelling re for fear for ir personal safety.

Separately, China expressed support for Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko following his inauguration, amid weeks of huge protests over his re election which opposition says was rigged.

Lukashenko's inauguration hadn't been anunced in advance and came as a surprise for many after nearly seven weeks of mass protests against his disputed re-election.

Opposition leaders dismissed ceremony that had been prepared in secrecy as "a farce", and many European officials refused to recognize Lukashenko as country's legitimate president.