New Zealand joins Australia in denouncing China's tweet - Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand has joined Australia in denouncing a graphic tweet posted by a Chinese official that shows a fake image of a grinning Australian soldier holding a bloodied knife to a child’s throat.

China has not backed down from the tweet and said there will be no apology.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday called the image “repugnant” and demanded an apology from the Chinese government.

The post took aim at alleged abuses by Australian soldiers during the conflict in Afghanistan.

He wrote a caption with his tweet: “Shocked by murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers.

“What Australia should do is to reflect deeply, bring the perpetrators to justice, make a formal apology to the Afghan people, and solemnly promise to the international community that they will never commit such terrible crimes again,” Hua said.

Morrison acknowledged there were tensions between China and Australia.