‘What offensive steps has Australia taken?’ Scott Morrison risks further incurring the wrath of China as he insists Australia didn’t ‘target’ Beijing by calling for a coronavirus inquiry
Scott Morrison has insisted Australia’s calls for an inquiry into the origins of coronavirus were not offensive.
China was infuriated by the government’s demand for an independent probe and imposed a tax on barley and banned some Aussie beef in apparent revenge.
But the Prime Minister today insisted he did nothing wrong and said he did not target our largest trading partner.
‘Australia has only ever acted in our own national interest and we have only ever acted in a way that has not sought to be offensive in any way, shape or form,’ he told the Today show.
‘I would simply ask “what offensive steps has Australian taken in relation to this relationship?” and my answer is none.
‘We are being ourselves, we have always been consistent about what we say. We say it in private and we say it in public.
‘So it is an important relationship. We will continue to work that relationship honestly but on the sure ground of Australia’s national interest and we will never resile from that.’
Host Karl Stefanovic then asked: ‘They seem pretty offended if we haven’t done anything?’
Mr Morrison replied: ‘Well, it is for others to explain to me what the offence is.
”Australia has simply acted in accordance with our national interests.
‘We have acted as a good global citizen whether it comes to multilateral trading forums or indeed through the World Health Assembly.
‘None of our actions have been targeted in in way with China. We have a partnership with them. We are living up with the partnership.’