Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang (Photo from Foreign Ministry website)

 
Australian media maliciously hype China's help to Vanuatu, politicians fuel it with ulterior motives: Chinese FM


Australian media should not maliciously hype an airport incident in the Island country of Vanuatu, and Australian politicians should not fuel it with ulterior motives, Chinese Foreign Ministry said in response to reports of the delay of an Australian aid plane to Vanuatu. 

Reports claiming an Australian aid plane to Vanuatu was delayed because a Chinese plane was parked and blocked the airport were inaccurate, Geng Shuang, spokesperson of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday's media briefing. 

Western media reported that an Australian plane carrying aid to cyclone-struck Vanuatu turned around and returned to Australia on Sunday as a Chinese plane with medical equipment was already on the airport's tarmac and was blocking the runway. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said that the Australian side has raised concerns with officials in Vanuatu and the so-called inappropriate places of the Chinese plane with the Chinese government. 

We express our dissatisfaction and regret over Australia's untrue remarks, Geng said.

One Australian aviation expert believed that it was technical reasons causing the delay of unloading from the Chinese plane which then resulted in the Australian plane unable to land. It's quite normal in small airports, and the expert also called on Australian media not to resort to conspiracy theories, Geng said. He said the expert's opinion was just and objective.

China will continue to provide assistance within its capacity to Vanuatu and other island countries and is ready to strengthen cooperation with Australia in this regard, Geng said. 

Geng urged that some Australian politicians should abandon prejudice and zero-sum game mentality, do more to help island countries cope with the coronavirus pandemic, and promote mutual trust and cooperation between China and Australia. 

Global Times