Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lijian Zhao posted a doctored image showing an grinning Australian soldier with a bloody knife next to a child, who is seen holding a lamb.
The caption reads: "Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians and prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strong condemn such acts, and call for holding them accountable".
The tweet has since received over 11,000 responses and
nearly 10,000 shares.
Australian Prime Minister Morrison has blasted the move as "utterly outrageous" and unable to be "justified on any basis."
He said the Australian government was demanding an apology from China and has asked Twitter to remove the tweet.
The subject matter of the image concerns alleged war crimes by Australian soldiers, which include the unlawful killings of Afghan civilians and prisoners.
Twitter Post |
The incident is the latest spat between the two countries and comes amid deteriorating relations.
China has slapped economic sanctions on Australian goods, while state-backed news have attacked Australia over a range of issues.
Beijing's hostility appears to be connected to Canberra's decision to combat its regional supremacy as well as calls for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.
The latest post relflects China's more aggressive approach to communications with other countries, something analysts have termed "wolf warrior" diplomacy.
Agencies contributed to this report.
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