In a recent interview, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson accused the Australian government of double standards after Australia’s top diplomat expressed concerns about human rights violations in Xinjiang and Tibet.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese responded to the criticisms from China, dismissing claims that Australia suffers from “systemic racism” and “hate crimes.” He emphasized Australia’s commitment to stand up for its interests, stating, “When it comes to China, we’ve said we’ll cooperate where we can, we’ll disagree where we must, and we’ll engage in our national interest. We’ve consistently raised issues of human rights with China in a clear manner.”

During the recent Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa, Australia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, James Larsen, delivered a joint statement on behalf of 15 countries, including the US and the UK. He reiterated concerns regarding serious human rights violations in China and urged the country to uphold its international obligations. Larsen called for the release of all individuals arbitrarily detained in both Xinjiang and Tibet and stressed the need for transparency. “We call on China to allow unfettered and meaningful access to Xinjiang and Tibet for independent observers, including from the UN, to evaluate the human rights situation,” he stated.

In response, Lin Jian, the spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, pushed back against the joint statement, accusing involved nations of ignoring their own human rights issues while criticizing others. He pointed out Australia’s struggles with systemic racism, hate crimes, and the treatment of refugees and Indigenous communities. Lin also mentioned alleged misconduct by Australian soldiers during military operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

This exchange comes amid ongoing tensions between the two nations regarding human rights, especially following a 2022 report from former UN human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet, which highlighted serious violations against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The report indicated that the scale of arbitrary detention and restrictions on fundamental rights might constitute crimes against humanity. Beijing dismissed the report as being based on “disinformation” from anti-China forces.