Australia was 'a place roamed by rascals and outlaws': Chinese newspaper launches torrid attack and labels Foreign Minister Julie Bishop a 'complete fool'

A Chinese tabloid used a Beijing colloquialism to call Julie Bishop a fool

The Foreign Minister had pledged to stand up for Australian values and to 'manage for the worst' when dealing with China

The Global Times said Ms Bishop was more like the 'angry youths' found in the Chinese cyber sphere than a diplomat







Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has been described as a 'complete fool' by a Chinese tabloid newspaper after she pledged to stand up for Australian values and to 'manage for the worst' when dealing with China.

Australia's history of human rights was also targeted with the nation being described as a place once 'roamed by rascals and outlaws' that would soon adjust to the shifting realities of power.

'Australia's history is not short of records of human rights infringement on the aboriginal population,' the Global Times reported in its Chinese and English editions on Monday.



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The Global Times used a Beijing colloquialism to describe Julie Bishop as a 'complete fool' as it responded to comments made by the Foreign Minister in an interview last week

'The country used to be a place roamed by rascals and outlaws from Europe. Perhaps it has to boast its values to cover up its actual lack of confidence in front of Western countries.'

The newspaper's editorial used a Beijing colloquialism to describe the Foreign Minister as a 'complete fool' as it responded to the comments made by Ms Bishop in an interview with Fairfax media last week.

The Chinese editorial compared Ms Bishop's comments to that of Prime Minister Tony Abbott when he told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last week that he 'admired the skill and the sense of honour' of the Japanese troops who attacked Sydney Harbour during World War II.

Hu Xijin is the editor of the Chinese tabloid, the Global Times, which published the editorial taking aim at Ms Bishop on Monday

'If Abbott's words were meant to flatter his visiting Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe, Bishop's provocation appeared to have come out of nowhere,' the editorial read.

'The current Australian government has been widely considered as inexperienced, particularly in dealing with foreign relations. Still, the naivety of its foreign minister still surprised Chinese people.



'China is Australia's biggest trade partner and has not offended Australia in any way. Bishop's verbal provocation made her look more like one of the often pointless 'angry youths' found in the Chinese cyber sphere than a diplomat.'

The editorial compared Ms Bishop's comments to Prime Minister Tony Abbott's when he told Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last week that he 'admired the skill and the sense of honour' of the Japanese troops who attacked Sydney Harbour during World War II

Australia has relied heavily on the Chinese market in exports so the Federal Government's stance on China will fluctuate, according to the newspaper.



'Bishop calls for standing up to China, but what resources does she have to do so with? The next day, Australian leaders will smile at China again, just as they do now to Japan,' it read.