Facing a demand for an apology, Chinese artist Wuheqilin creates a new illustration in response to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. In the picture, when a boy dressed in red and waering a red hat tries to expose the murders with a paintbrush, a group of reporteres focus their cameras on him with their backs to the murders. In the distance, Morrison covers the bodies with the Australian national flag and points his finger at the boy and demands an apology. Behind Morrison is a smoke-filled battlefield when soldiers are seen shooting and killing unarmed civilians. Photo: Wuheqilin

The relatives of Afghan victims killed by Australian troops during military operations pray at a tomb in Tirinkot, capital of Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, Nov. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Sharafat)

 As a war of words about an illustration featuring an Australian soldier murdering a child continues to escalate online, floods of Chinese rejected Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's "fake and malicious" accusation, and his remarks were deemed by observers as a tool to stoke domestic nationalist resentment toward China.

As the farce created by Morrison, who asked China to apologize for an illustration showing an Australian solider killing an Afghan child, became more intense, Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday that Morrison's accusation is groundless, noting that the circulating illustration is not a photograph but a computer-generated artwork created by a Chinese cartoonist.

The illustration is based on an investigation report by the Australian Department of Defense, Hua pointed out, noting that "although it is a painting, it reflects the facts."

Hua said that Morrison's real purpose is clear, and that is to divert attention and shift pressure from Australian war crimes to criticism of China.

Some Australian politicians and certain other Australians show inexplicable, unreasonable arrogance and hypocrisy, Hua said. They are trying to deprive China of its right to tell the truth as they are afraid of the truth, she noted.

Hua on Monday rejected Morrison's demand, saying that the Australian government should feel "ashamed" for the crimes committed by its soldiers in Afghanistan.

Following Morrison, the Australian Embassy in China took to Chinese social media to call the illustration "fake" and forwarded Morrison's remarks on the issue.

The malicious and groundless accusations sparked a backlash among Chinese netizens.

"The picture is indeed a fake. You [Australian soldiers] killed two children. The cartoonist only drew one," a netizen wrote mockingly, and the comment had been liked over 35,000 times as of press time.

Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University in Shanghai, told the Global Times on Tuesday that "This reveals Morrison's cowardice and lack of a sense of responsibility as a fully independent statesman."

Chen said "There is a clear-cut distinction between a piece of art and a faked photo." 

"Morrison deliberately mischaracterized the computer-generated artwork as a fake photo to stoke domestic nationalist resentment toward China, using the tweet to deflect international public indignation at the Australian soldiers' atrocities in Afghanistan," Chen said.

Meanwhile, Morrison has been trying to play down the event.

Infographic:GT

Australian media outlet The New Daily reported on Tuesday that Morrison has warned Coalition colleagues against further amplifying of the cartoon tweet issue.

Morrison said that Australia's objectives were to uphold its national interest and values, while also striving to maintain a working relationship with China.

Chinese analysts said that Morrison's softening of tone is only a result of his realization that his self-directed farce has profoundly damaged Australia's international image and made Australian soldiers' atrocities clear for the whole world to see. 

However, some Western countries — including Australia's ally the US —backed Australia's accusation against China.

According to The Australian newspaper on Tuesday, the US State Department is reportedly "outraged" by the illustration and is discussing its response to China's provocations.

Commenting on the report, Chen said that such acts indicate clearly the corroboration and concerted efforts between Australian and US anti-China forces. 

"Such juvenile acts amount to nothing meaningful in today's international relations," Chen added.