Senator Matt Canavan Says Australia Should Find Trading Partners Other Than 'Bully' China

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has warned Australia's relationship with China 'will never be the same'.

There's a high amount of tension between Australia and China at the moment. It reached fever pitch this week when a spokesman for the Chinese government tweeted a doctored image of an Australian soldier holding a knife to the throat of an Afghan child.

Zhao Lijian wrote along side the shocking image: "Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians and prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts and call for holding them accountable."

The tweet was in reference to the findings of the Brereton report, which alleged Australian special forces soldiers committed 39 murders in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison immediately demanded an apology for the 'repugnant tweet'.

"There are undoubtedly tensions that exist between China and Australia. But that's not how you deal with it," he said.

"It is deeply offensive to every Australian who has served in uniform. It is outrageous and can't be justified on any basis whatsoever."

China has now imposed 212.1 per cent tariffs on Australian wine, just weeks after the country aired 14 grievances against Australia.

As the war of words between the two countries continues, Senator Canavan believes it's time for Australia to 'diversify trade relationships', as China is not acting 'like a friend'.

"Of course it will be ideal if we could go back to how the relationship was, but I fear that's not going to be the case," he told Channel 9's Today programme.

"What we must now do is to as soon as possible diversify our trade relationships to find business, to create business with friends not bullies.

"The way the Chinese government has been acting is not one of a friend. We shouldn't want to stay in business with that type of government and country for too long."

The Chinese Embassy have since responded to Morrison's comments, saying the Prime Minister was 'overreacting' to the tweet.

"We would like to further stress the following: The rage and roar of some Australian politicians and media is nothing but misreading of and over-reaction to Mr Zhao's tweet," the statement said.

"The accusations made are simply to serve two purposes. One is to deflect public attention from the horrible atrocities by certain Australian soldiers. The other is to blame China for the worsening of bilateral ties.

"There may be another attempt to stoke domestic nationalism."

Topics: News, Australia, China

Jessica Lynch

@jesskalynch