"Australia is gum stuck under China's foot... It needs to be rubbed"

-China-Australia Diplomatic Relations Cool Amid Push for COVID-19 Origin Investigation
-Potential for Diplomatic Conflict to Escalate into Economic Retaliation

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Sunmi Park] As Australia maintains its stance on pushing for an international investigation into the origin of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) targeting China, diplomatic relations between the two countries are rapidly freezing. The diplomatic conflict is poised to escalate into economic retaliation.

On the early morning of the 29th, Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Chinese state-run media Global Times, wrote on Twitter, "As (Australia's) attitude toward China worsens, Chinese companies will eventually reduce cooperation with Australia, and the number of Chinese students and tourists visiting Australia will also decrease. Time will prove everything." He directly mentioned that if Australia continues to turn its back on China, it will ultimately suffer economic damage.

Earlier, at midnight on the 28th, Hu also posted on the Chinese social networking service Weibo, "Australia always causes trouble. It feels like chewing gum stuck to the sole of China's shoe. Sometimes you have to find a stone and rub it off."

Hu's blunt remarks toward Australia came after news broke that last week Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged support for an international investigation into the origin of COVID-19 during calls with leaders of the United States and major European countries, which rapidly cooled the once close diplomatic relationship between China and Australia.

Australia is calling for an international investigation to clarify the origin of COVID-19, stating that China needs to have a different perspective from what it has presented so far. In response, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs judged Australia's call for an international investigation into the origin of COVID-19 as influenced by the United States and criticized Australia's demand as a "political scheme."

The diplomatic conflict risks spreading to a deterioration of economic relations between the two countries.

Qing Jingye, Chinese Ambassador to Australia, has publicly declared that China may boycott Australian products. In an interview with Australian media on the 27th, Ambassador Qing said, "China may stop importing Australian beef and wine," and warned, "If Australia continues to maintain an unfriendly attitude toward China, Chinese people, especially students and tourists, will reconsider visiting Australia."

In response, Simon Birmingham, Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, stated that Ambassador Qing's remarks crossed the line and said, "The Australian government is very displeased with these comments." The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for Trade, Tourism and Investment reportedly requested Ambassador Qing to clarify his statements regarding the boycott of Australian products. Marise Payne, Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, criticized the Chinese ambassador's suggestion of economic retaliation, saying, "What is needed in the current situation is international cooperation, not economic intimidation."

Ambassador Qing responded through the Chinese embassy website, stating, "China openly rejects the concerns expressed by the Australian side," and added, "It is an undeniable fact that the demand for an international investigation into the origin of COVID-19 is a political scheme."

Australia's high economic dependence on China provides the backdrop for China to potentially involve economic retaliation amid the deteriorated relationship. China accounted for 26% of Australia's total trade in 2018-2019, amounting to 235 billion dollars. Particularly in coal, iron ore, wine, beef, tourism, and education sectors, China is Australia's largest export market.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Josh Frydenberg, Australia's Federal Treasurer, said in an interview with local Australian media, "An independent and transparent investigation into the origin of the global pandemic must be conducted. Australia will not succumb to China's economic intimidation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.