US ambassador slams China for 'spreading disinformation' with fake image insulting Australia and urges Beijing to 'come clean' on the origins of Covid-19
US ambassador Arthur Culvahouse
The US ambassador to Australia has slammed China for 'spreading disinformation' after Beijing tweeted a fake image of an Aussie soldier threatening to kill an Afghan child.
Arthur Culvahouse accused Beijing of using 'fabricated images and disingenuous statements' to conduct diplomacy as he rushed to Canberra's defence.
In a statement provided to the ABC, he also said China still has not 'come clean on the origins of the Covid-19' after Chinese media last week claimed the virus started in India not Wuhan.
Canberra-Beijing relations hit a new low on Monday when China's foreign ministry spokesman sparked fury by tweeting a mocked-up image of a digger threatening to kill an Afghan child after a report alleged Aussie troops committed war crimes.
Mr Culvahouse said Australia is responsibly investigating the allegations and said he wished China would show the 'same degree of transparency and accountability' over its treatment of imprisoned Muslims in Xinjiang province.
On Monday Mr Morrison called the mocked-up image 'repugnant' and demanded an apology - but Beijing refused and on Tuesday communist party newspaper The Global Times shared a new image by the same artist attacking the prime minister.
Canberra-Beijing relations hit a new low on Monday when China's foreign ministry spokesman sparked fury by tweeting this mocked-up image of a digger threatening to kill an Afghan child after a report alleged Aussie troops committed war crimes
The image shows Mr Morrison covering a dead body in a war zone while telling a painter - which represents China - to 'apologise'.
The computer-generated image reflects Beijing's view that Mr Morrison should focus on a recent war crimes report - which contained allegations that 25 Australian soldiers unlawfully killed 39 Afghan civilians and prisoners - rather than directing his anger to China.
Tensions have escalated since Mr Morrison infuriated Australia's largest trading partner by calling for an independent inquiry into the origins of coronavirus in May.
China has recently held up Australia's coal and seafood exports and last week put a 200 per cent tariff on Aussie wine despite the two countries signing a free trade deal in 2015.
Earlier this year Beijing slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley, suspended beef imports and told students and tourists not to travel Down Under.
Communist party newspaper The Global Times has shared this new image attacking the prime minister