China, barred Australian MPs need to 'dial back the rhetoric': Tour organiser

The Chief Executive of China Matters Alistair Nicholas said that Andrew Hastie and James Paterson need to 'dial back the rhetoric' as the engagement with the media has made it difficult for China to let them in. Both the members of the Australian government were due to go on a study tour in China next month but their visa applications were rejected and the Chinese embassy has slammed Hastie over his comments on China's human rights records and its alleged interference in Australian politics. However, Labour MP Matt Keogh, another politician due to go on the tour has not been denied a visa. 

"We regret the decision of the government of the People's Republic of China... that at this time Mr Hastie and Senator Paterson are not welcome on a China Matters study tour to Beijing," tour organiser China Matters said late Friday. 

Both the MPs, Hastie and Paterson have been criticising the Chinese regime for human rights violations against Uighurs in Xinjiang province at the same time trying to impose their soft powers in the universities of Australia

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Hastie slammed China

Hastie is Australia's parliamentary intelligence committee head and has criticised Beijing in the past. He reportedly said that he has been blocked from entering China due to his “frankness about the Chinese Communist Party”. Hatie had accused Beijing of trying to infiltrate Australian politics through donations. In an opinion piece, Hastie compared the West's approach to China to what he called the “catastrophic failure” to hold back Nazi Germany. He further added that Australia like France during the war, “has failed to see how mobile our authoritarian neighbour has become”. Both the politicians have, however, said that they were looking forward to learning from Chinese people about history and culture.

"We are particularly disappointed that the apparent reason we are not welcome in China is this time is our frankness about the Chinese Communist Party," the pair said in a joint statement. "Despite this, we will always speak out in defence of Australia's values, sovereignty and national interest. "We look forward to a time when the Chinese government realises it has nothing to fear from the honest discussion and the free exchange of ideas." 

(With PTI inputs)

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