Politics
10:58, 15-Dec-2017
MOFA: Australia should be very clear about China's position
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China has summoned the Australian ambassador amid a growing row over allegations of Chinese influence in Australian politics.
"The relevant official in charge from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has had an important talk with the Australian ambassador to China," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Thursday, without specifying when the meeting took place.
"Australia should be very clear about China's position on the relevant issue of our bilateral relations," Lu told a regular news briefing.
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on December 5th announced new laws that would ban foreign donations to political parties and criminal charges for anyone found interfering in Australia’s political process while citing disturbing reports about Chinese influence.
China lodged solemn representations to Australia last week. Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed "shock" and "strong dissatisfaction" to the prejudice and Cold War mindset of some Australian leaders and media, adding it has "poisoned the atmosphere" between the two countries.
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