Ultra-nationalist Chinese trolls are targeting Australian-based critics of the Chinese Communist Party in vicious online campaigns designed to shut down dissent.

The attacks on social media platforms have been sparked by tensions over the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, which have spilled over into Australia in recent weeks. Protesters supporting the city's pro-democracy movement have been confronted by pro-China counter-protesters, leading to outbreaks of violence at universities and rallies in CBDs.

Journalist and comedian Vicky Xiuzhong Xu was abused and threatened online after documenting pro-China protesters who chanted at a Sydney rally on Saturday that Hong Kong sympathisers should “get the f--- out”.

Vicky Xiuzhong Xu was trolled online. Credit:Monica Pronk

The abuse came in the form of friend requests on the Chinese social media app WeChat and screenshots from private WeChat groups sent to her by friends. Some messages described her being raped, insulted her parents and called her a traitor. Others called for “doxxing” - the publication of personal details such as her address and phone number.