‘Just the tip of the iceberg’: Beijing fires another shot at Australia and says ALL Chinese consumers will abandon the country – after warning tourists not to visit because of ‘racist violence’
- Chinese state-owned newspaper Global Times unleashes attack on Australia
- Comes after Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism told citizens to not visit
- Recent rise in racial discrimination and violence against Chinese and Asians
- Global Times declared a loss in Chinese consumers to be the ‘tip of the iceberg’
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
Chinese escalated its threats against Australia after warning tourists not to visit, with a state-run newspaper warning it could lose Chinese consumers entirely.
its residents will stop visiting Down Under due to racism, violence and our ‘unfriendly attitude.’
The latest round in the hostile war of words between the two nations comes two days after the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism urged citizens to avoid holidaying in Australia.
The ministry claimed there has been a ‘significant increase’ in racial discrimination and violence against Chinese and Asian people during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Sunday state-owned newspaper Global Times published a fresh attack, declaring the loss of Chinese tourists would be ‘just the tip of the iceberg’.
China claims its citizens will stop visiting Australia due to racism and violence since the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured are travellers from a Wuhan flight arriving in Sydney before the pandemic hit our shores
The strongly-worded article also noted Australia’s ‘overwhelming media coverage’ on the rise of racism since the pandemic and warned its citizens that current laws won’t protect them if they are subjected to similar attacks while visiting Australia.
‘It is Australia’s unfriendly attitude, not the travel alert, that may really scare away Chinese tourists and students,’ the article read.
‘If Australia wants to retain the gain from its economic ties with China, it must make a real change to its current stance on China, or it will completely lose the benefits of Chinese consumers.
‘The tourism loss may be just a tip of iceberg in its loss of Chinese interest.’
More than 1.3 million from mainland China headed Down Under in the year ending September 2019, according to Tourism Research Australia data.
The $12.3billion Chinese visitors spent represented almost a third of all spending by international travellers during the period.
Racist vandals spray painted ‘COVID-19 China die’ on a home in Melbourne’s east earlier this year
The Global Times also criticised Australian politicians after federal trade and tourism Minister Simon Birmingham and deputy prime minister Michael McCormack hit back at China’s claims about increased racism.
‘Australian politicians have always readily launched attacks against China even when they know clearly that their assertions are unjustified, because they are too easily swayed by US political attitude and too eager to win US favors,’ the article states.
‘It is what they do, not what they say, that really determines which direction China and Australia will go.’
The latest round in the ongoing feud between the two nations comes after Beijing became infuriated by Australia’s calls for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus, claiming it was a ‘malicious’ attempt to blame and ‘stigmatize’ China.
China slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley and suspended imports from four Australian beef suppliers in apparent revenge – and warned of further punishment.
About one third of Australia’s total exports – including iron ore, gas, coal and food – go to China, bringing in around $135billion per year and providing thousands of jobs.
Tensions continue to rise after the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism urged citizens to avoid holidaying in Australia. Pictured are Chinese tourists enjoying a photo opportunity on Sydney Harbour