I would like to share the contents of an article by the Singapore bureau chief of Sankei Shimbun newspaper.
The title is: Will Australia "hug" China again?
In English, there is a term "panda huggers," which refers to people who curry favor with China.
In March of last year, Mr. Wang Linning, Minister of the Chinese Embassy in Australia, used this term and it became a hot topic.
In his speech, he said, "Panda hugger (in Australia) used to be a favorable term, but now it has a derogatory meaning. Being a friend of China has become a sin and a mistake in Australia."
Australia-China relations have rapidly deteriorated over the new coronavirus.
Prime Minister Morrison's call for international verification of the source of the outbreak was met with fierce opposition from China.
Combined with the revelation of China's political maneuvering and its hegemonic maritime expansion, the Morrison administration stepped on the gas pedal to become "hardline" against China.
Mr. Wang's remarks were a frank response by China to the growing anti-Chinese sentiment in Australia.
Before the confrontation deepened, Australia prioritized economic interests and had a close relationship with China.
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https://youtu.be/cAPpKtzOpHk
