Melbourne, August 18: Angry over Australia’s move to grant visa to exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer, China has taken a series of tough measures, including cancelling high-level visits, prompting strain in relationships with Canberra.
The communist nation has effectively banned visits by senior officials and sanctioned a press campaign against Australia, angered by several recent decisions by the Kevin Rudd government, such as granting a visa to Kadeer, ‘The Australian’ reported.
China blames Kadeer for instigating violence during recent riots in its Muslim majority Xinjiang province which claimed about 200 lives.
Kadeer had attended the Melbourne International Film Festival this month.
It is believed that the Chinese have also intimated that they may not co-operate readily with Australia over Asia Pacific regional architecture, which would make Prime Minister Rudd’s plan for an Asia Pacific community difficult to achieve.
–PTI