A senior Chinese official has inflamed tensions with Australia by posting a "repugnant" and violent doctored image to social media of an Australian soldier.
China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian today tweeted the fake image of an Australian soldier appearing to slit the throat of a child while kneeling on an Australian flag.
Below the image, which shows the child's face covered and holding a lamb, are the words: "Don't be afraid, we are coming to bring you peace".
"Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians and prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts and call for holding them accountable," Mr Zhao said in the tweet.
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He was making reference to the findings of the Brereton report.
The report alleged Australian special forces soldiers committed 39 murders in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison says Australia is demanding an apology and immediate removal of the image.
Mr Morrison labelled the image "false and a terrible slur".
"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."
Mr Morrison said the government had also contacted Twitter to request the image be removed.
He said the social media giant should "in the interests of decency" take the image down.
Mr Morrison called on China to engage in respectful dialogue, rather than "engaging in this sort of deplorable behaviour".
This is not the first time Mr Zhao has taken issue with Australia.
Last week, he revealed a list of accusations against Australia, including accusing the Morrison government of a "blatant violation ... of international relations", by speaking out over what it viewed as risks to "democratic processes" in Hong Kong and human rights abuse allegations in Xinjiang.
Mr Zhao's gripes followed the release by Chinese officials of a list of 14 grievances China has with Australia.
At the top of the list are decisions to ban Huawei from the rollout of the 5G network, foreign interference laws, and calling for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.
One official said to 9News "why should China care about Australia?"
The strained relationship between the nations was again shown on Friday when China imposed massive tariffs on Australian wine.
China's Ministry of Commerce announced the duties will range from 107.1 per cent to 212.1 per cent, effectively doubling to tripling the cost of Australian wine.
"There is a causal relationship between (wine) dumping and material damage," the ministry said in a statement.
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said the tariffs had the effect of rendering Australian wine unviable and unmarketable in China.
The tariffs come after an investigation launched by the Ministry of Commerce in August.
It follows massive Chinese tariffs on Australian beef and barley.
There have also been unofficial bans on coal, sugar, lobsters, copper and log timber coming into China from Australia since the start of the month, the South China Morning Post reports.
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