Morrison strikes more conciliatory tone on China

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 h expressed indignation and anger at a tweet posted by a Chinese official that showed a fake im of an Australian soldier holding a bloodied knife to a child's throat.

Morrison called tweet "truly repugnant" and "deeply offensive" and demanded an apology from China. Morrison posted his reply on Chinese messaging app WeChat, which n deleted his response on platform, on grounds it could distort historical events and confuse public.

Chinese official aimed to draw attention to alleged unwarranted killings and abuses by Australian soldiers during conflict in Afghanistan. China stood on its position saying that Australia should be one examining its actions. On Thursday, Morrison took a much different approach, telling reporters in Canberra that his aim was for two countries to have a "happy co-existence."  "My position and my government's position is to seek constructive engment," he said. Morrison ded that Australia's relationship with China "is a mutually beneficial one." China is Australia's largest tring partner. 

(Im Credits: AP)