China said on Thursday that former Australian prime minister John Howard's criticism of Chinese diplomatic policies is "unacceptable."
Howard criticized Chinese diplomatic efforts to gag exiled dissidents as "clumsy," and linked strained relations between Beijing and Canberra to a failed mining deal.

"They've got this silly habit, if they don't want you to see someone, they say so – which means that you must see them," Howard said.

He told a business function in Sydney on Wednesday that China's attempts to prevent Rebiya Kadeer from visiting Australia last month were "ridiculous."

"They've done that with the Dalai Lama (and) the way they carried on about that lady with the visa (Kadeer), " he said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu yesterday hit back by saying, "It is dishonorable to indulge and even support separatists."

"Such action will only damage his own image," Jiang said, urging foreign diplomats to see through Kadeer's separatist nature, and to protect overall interests by not doing separatists any favor.
Regarding Kadeer's intention to talk with the Chinese
government, Jiang said Kadeer is a criminal under Chinese law. "Her accusations against China are not worth refuting," Jiang added.

China canceled a senior minister's visit over Canberra's receiving of Kadeer, whom Beijing accuses of being a separatist and inciting deadly unrest in Urumqi in July.

"As former Australian prime minister, Howard still wields a lot of influence in his country," Zhao Guojun of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences told the Global Times.

He added that Howard's criticism indicates the diversified and sometimes controversial attitudes inside Australian political parties.

"It's a common fault of some Australian officials that they don't think of the mutual beneficial perspective" of bilateral ties, Zhao said. "For instance, on the visit by Kadeer, Howard's remark reveals a unilateral attitude, which obstructs the development of bilateral ties."

The conservative leader of Australia for 11 years, Howard also said recent tension between China and Australia could be traced back to mining giant Rio Tinto's rejection of a $19.5 billion cash injection from China's state-owned aluminum giant, Chinalco.

China says the detention of Australian Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu is linked to allegations of industrial espionage and bribery during fraught iron ore negotiations.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Australia-China ties would experience difficulties, but the "long-term beneficial nature" of the relationship would overcome controversies such as those surrounding Hu and Kadeer.

"We have a very good economic relationship with China, and that will continue," AFP quoted Smith as saying. "We need to take a long-term view of our relationship, and we need to be patient."

Agencies contributed to this story

Source:Global Times