简体中文
The Global Times on Friday published an article which said that Australia had been sabotaging and disturbing Pacific Island nations' cooperation with China on vaccines and anti-coronavirus measures.
The article said that the paper had "learned exclusively from sources" that the sabotage included "planting Australian consultants in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to manipulate local epidemic prevention policies targeting China, obstructing the authorizing of Chinese vaccines' emergency use and threatening senior officials if they welcomed Chinese vaccines."
"Under Australia's colonial-style dominance, some of PNG's new prevention policies target Chinese," the article said.
It cited several examples of Australia's "disturbing" vaccine cooperation between China and PNG.
"In February, China announced it would offer vaccines to Papua New Guinea and also provided the trial data on the vaccines, but with Australia working in the shadows, Papua New Guinea's epidemic prevention center did not approve the emergency use of Chinese vaccines until the end of May, when Australia provided vaccines had already arrived in the country," the article said.
Moreover, it continued that according to the sources, the PNG president had planned to welcome Chinese vaccines at the airport, but was blocked from doing so by Australia, which threatened to cease investment in the country's road projects.
The purpose of such actions is "spreading Australia's vaccines throughout Pacific Island countries and showcasing its influence in the area," the article said.
The article also cited an analysis from Australian think tank Lowy Institute, which said that "if Pacific Island states choose China's vaccines in the fight against the virus, it means the economic recovery of these countries in the post-COVID-19 era would be boosted with China's leadership, and would demean Australia's reputation and influence in the area."
It quoted Professor Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, as saying that Australia's actions smacked of "colonialism and Cold War mentality," and would damage its reputation.
