Australian FM Marise Payne accuses China of spreading 'fear and division.'

Speaking at the Australian National University in Canberra, Payne noted that "Twitter had disclosed that over 32,000 accounts had been identified as state-linked information operations which the company attributed to China, Russia, and Turkey,"  The Guardian reported.

Amid current tensions with Beijing after Australia pursues an international investigation into the COVID-19 origins and response, Payne noted that Australia had been “very clear in rejecting as disinformation the Chinese government’s warnings that tourists and students should reconsider coming here because of the risk of racism”.

According to her, Australia would resist and counter efforts at disinformation “through facts and transparency, underpinned by liberal democratic values that we will continue to promote at home and abroad.”