NZ leader Jacinda Ardern raises concerns over China’s graphic tweet

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday said she raised her concerns with China over a Chinese official's tweet showing a fake image of an Australian soldier appearing to slit a child's throat. "This is an image that wasn't factual. It wasn't correct. And so in keeping with our principled position where images like that are used, we will raise those concerns and we'll do it directly," Ardern told reporters in Wellington.

On Monday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters the image was "truly repugnant" and merits an apology. China said there would be no apology. The incident is further souring already tense relations between the two nations. Morrison said he was seeking an apology from the Chinese government after Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, posted the graphic image that shows a grinning soldier holding a bloodied knife to the throat of a veiled child, who is holding a lam

Zhao wrote a caption with the tweet saying: "Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts, & call for holding them accountable." He was referring to a disturbing report by Australia's military earlier this month which found evidence that elite Australian troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and civilians during the conflict in Afghanistan. It recommended that 19 soldiers be referred to federal police for criminal investigation. Asked about the issue at a daily briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying cast blame on the Australian side.