Chinese diplomat’s ‘strong language’ at odds with anticipated olive branch speech

Sky News Political Editor Andrew Clennell says the off-script comments made by senior Chinese Diplomat Wang Xining during his address to the National Press Club were a “lot more pointed” than he had anticipated. “I started watching thinking he was almost extending an olive branch and then things went sour in the Q&A,” Mr Clennell said. In response to a question about allegations China has been involved in “economic coercion” against Australia, Mr Wang said politicians were trying to “shirk responsibility” for outbreaks in Australia by blaming China for the killer coronavirus. He lashed out at the federal government for calling for an independent review into the virus because “we believe this proposal was targeted against China alone”. Mr Clennell said Mr Wang did not go as far as the Chinese Ambassador in April who suggested boycotts might be imposed by Beijing if Australia continued its push for an independent investigation but “it was pretty startling stuff”. “I don’t think it will do anything for the relationship,” Mr Clennell said. Image: AP