Australia's Leader Dismisses Beijing's Claims of Racism and Hate Crimes

Photo : AP

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has firmly rejected accusations from Beijing that his country is “plagued by systemic racism and hate crimes.” This response comes after an Australian diplomat led a coalition of Western nations in voicing renewed concerns over human rights violations in China, specifically addressing issues in Xinjiang and Tibet.

While arriving in Samoa for a Commonwealth leaders’ summit, Albanese stated, “When it comes to China, we’ve said we’ll cooperate where we can, we’ll disagree where we must, and we’ll engage in our national interest.” He emphasized that Australia has consistently raised human rights issues with China.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, criticized a statement made by 15 nations at a recent assembly, which had been presented by James Larsen, Australia’s ambassador The statement expressed ongoing concerns about serious human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet. In his address, Larsen urged China to “uphold the international human rights obligations that it has voluntarily assumed” and called for the release of individuals arbitrarily detained in these regions.

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Jian denounced the collective statement as “political manipulation under the pretext of human rights,” particularly singling out Australia for its internal issues. He claimed that Australia has been “long plagued by systemic racism and hate crimes” and should focus on resolving its own problems rather than criticizing China.

In light of these accusations, Albanese reiterated that Australia would “always stand up for Australia’s interests,” affirming that the government has raised human rights concerns with Beijing in a "consistent and clear way.” He emphasized that no country possesses a flawless human rights record, but he asserted that all nations should be subject to scrutiny regarding their human rights obligations.

The accusations from China follow a series of reports detailing human rights violations in Xinjiang, where a government campaign initiated in 2017 has resulted in the detention of over a million Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and other ethnic minorities in what the Chinese government has labeled “vocational training centers.” 

Furthermore, Larsen highlighted credible reports of coercive labor practices imposed on Tibetans, alongside the erosion of their cultural and religious freedoms. He called for “unfettered and meaningful access” to Xinjiang and Tibet for independent observers.

In response to Australia’s stance, Jian accused the country of hypocrisy, citing its treatment of refugees, immigrants, and Indigenous populations. He referred to allegations concerning Australian soldiers committing grave offenses during military operations in Afghanistan, including the unlawful killings of Afghan civilians.

Amidst these tensions, economic ties between Australia and China are gradually improving after years of official and unofficial trade barriers. However, the relationship remains strained due to geopolitical differences and human rights concerns, especially as China adopts a more assertive military posture in the Asia-Pacific region. During a recent visit, Chinese Premier Qiang Li and Albanese discussed the need to “properly manage” their nations’ differences.

Experts, such as Justin Bassi from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, believe China’s sharp rebuke was an overreaction meant to caution Canberra against making further criticisms. He noted that Australia has been limiting its criticisms of China to statements made by officials rather than ministers, indicating a compromise on the matter.