China has slammed a speech by Australian Home Affairs Secretary Mike Pezzullo as “extremely irresponsible”; he warned that Canberra should be ready for a potential military conflict in the region.
Pezzullo delivered a speech on Anzac Day (25 April), where he warned that “in a world of perpetual tension and dread, the drums of war beat”.
“Let us continue to search unceasingly for the chance for peace while bracing again, yet again, for the curse of war,” he said, without specifically mentioning China.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian in a press conference on Wednesday commented on Pezzullo’s remarks, stressing that Beijing is a promoter of peace and global development.
“Some individual politicians in Australia, out of their selfish interests, are keen to make statements that incite confrontation and hype up threat of war, which is extremely irresponsible,” he said.
“We urge certain individuals in Australia to shake off the Cold War mentality, stop making irresponsible remarks, and act in ways that are conducive to regional peace and stability rather than the opposite,” Lijian said.
Pezzullo’s hawkish comments were also met with criticism by Australia’s top opposition figures, with Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan saying that the "drums of war are beating" remarks were "totally unnecessary".
Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten also said that Pezzullo's language was inflammatory, calling the remarks “pretty hyper-excited language”.
