New Delhi: In an updated travel advisory that was released Tuesday, the Australian government has warned its citizens that they could be at risk of “arbitrary detention” in China.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Australia has said that Chinese authorities have detained foreigners because they were suspected of “endangering national security”.
“China will not allow most foreigners to enter China due to Covid-19. Direct flights between China and Australia have significantly reduced,” the update, on the Smart Traveller website, says.
It further reads: “If you’re already in China, and wish to return to Australia, we recommend you do so as soon as possible by commercial means.”
Australians have been banned from overseas travel, unless granted permission, by the country’s Department of Home Affairs due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The update also says security in China’s Xinjiang region is “unstable due to ethnic tensions”.
The government has urged any Australian traveller in China to avoid taking part in protests and large gatherings.
“The Chinese government strictly controls demonstrations. Authorities may arrest protesters. Avoid protests and large gatherings. Don’t photograph or video protests,” the update says.
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Advisory comes amid strained Australia-China relations
The new advice comes amid tensions between the two countries in the wake of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s push for a global inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 and China’s handling of the pandemic.
The Chinese government, in turn, had warned its citizens to not travel to Australia, claiming racial discrimination and violence against Chinese visitors due to Covid-19.
Last week, the Australian PM had also announced that Australia was “actively considering offering safe haven” to Hong Kong residents after Beijing imposed its contentious national security laws on the region on 1 July.
A day later, Australia updated its travel advisory for Hong Kong and said the national security legislation could be “interpreted broadly”.
“National security legislation for Hong Kong came into effect on 1 July 2020. This law could be interpreted broadly. You can break the law without intending to. The maximum penalty under this law in Hong Kong is life imprisonment,” the update said.
On 29 June, Chinese daily The Global Times had published a story accusing the Australian government of “intensifying espionage offensive against China”.
The paper quoted a “source” from the Chinese law-enforcement agency, who said, “Chinese counter-espionage agencies will take more vigorous countermeasures to crack down on Australian espionage operations to safeguard China’s national security and interests.”
On 30 June again, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian accused the Australian government of conducting espionage in China and said The Global Times’ claims were only “the tip of the iceberg”.
Last month, China had indicted two Canadians, former diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, with espionage charges. The duo was held in 2018, days after Huawei CFO Meng Wangzhou was arrested by Canadian authorities on a US warrant.
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Journalists who supported anti CAA protestors which was to bring Hindus from pakistan to INDIA must be very happy with the treatment meted to HINDUS who have requested to build temple in ISLAMABAD. THE KIND OF THREATS AND AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS OF PAKISTANI PEOPLE MUST BE NOTED AND THIS JOURNALISTS IN INDIA MUST BE EXPOSED FOR THEIR SUPPORT TO ANTI HINDU ACTIVIST
Well done Australia!!