China has accused Australia’s defense chief of slander and making “wild remarks” over his comment that Australians should “prepare for war.”
“Certain Australian politicians often seek selfish political gains by making wild remarks to smear China and clamor for a war,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Tuesday.
“Such despicable moves are seen through by the Chinese people and the international community.”
This comes in response to Monday’s statement by Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton, who declared that China is “on a very deliberate course at the moment”, adding “we have to stand up with countries to stare down any act of aggression … to make sure we can keep peace in our region and for our country.”
Speaking on Channel Nine’s Today Show, Dutton said: “The only way you can preserve peace is to prepare for war and be strong as a country. Not to cower, not to be on a bended knee and be weak. That’s the reality.”