dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

‘Colonial-style arrogance’: China attacks Australia, New Zealand over Iran comments

Nathan Schmidt - March 18, 2026

China has lashed Australia and New Zealand for “colonial-style arrogance” and accused the two nations of overlooking the “root cause” of the war in the Middle East after their joint statement condemning Iran’s missile and drone attacks.

The statement, issued on Tuesday, also condemned Beijing over “destabilising activities” in the disputed South China Sea, its treatment of minority groups in Xinjiang and Tibet, and for stifling freedoms in semi-autonomous Hong Kong.

In a retaliatory statement, China’s embassy in New Zealand accused Australia and its trans-Tasman neighbour of staying silent on their own “poor records concerning human rights and ethnic minority issues”.

“Instead, it contains unwarranted, inappropriate, and extensive comments on China’s internal affairs,” the statement said.

“As a Chinese saying goes, one should first ensure one’s own conduct is beyond reproach before criticising others. In other words, it is important to reflect on one’s own actions before casting judgement.

“The sections concerning China’s internal affairs are marked by bias, misinformation, and inexplicable colonial-style arrogance, reflecting hypocrisy and double standards on issues of global peace, stability, and the wellbeing of people worldwide.”

It continued: “The international community and their own people are well placed to form a fair judgment regarding the treatment of indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities in those countries that level unfounded accusations against China”.

The Chinese mission accused Australia and New Zealand of overlooking “blatant violation of international law and the basic norms governing international relations” during the course of the Iran War, “which have resulted in civilian casualties and disruptions to the global economy”.

The statement reiterated China’s disputed claims regarding Xinjiang, where it has been accused of imprisoning Muslim Uyghur people, Hong Kong and self-governing Taiwan.

“Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and lies at the very core of China’s core interests, and this red line must not be crossed or challenged in any form,” the statement said.

It went on to claim the situation in the “East and South China Seas remains stable”.

New Zealand was urged to “take a clear-eyed view of the prevailing situation”, while the statement noted China remained “committed to developing friendly and cooperative relations with all countries, including New Zealand”.

Chinese foreign policy was marked by so-called wolf warrior diplomacy during the late 2010s, in which ambassadors often used strong rhetoric to attack foreign governments over criticism of Chinese policies.

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/colonialstyle-arrogance-china-attacks-australia-new-zealand-over-iran-comments/news-story/d0552232f1b9e3f997e8fdc38682533d

https://nz.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/zxgxs/202603/t20260318_11876749.htm

Iranian women's football team back in Iran, state media announces

abc.net.au - 19 March 2026

Iran's national women's football team has returned to the Islamic Republic after several of the players sought asylum in Australia, Iranian media is reporting.

The outlets shared footage of the players entering Iran after landing in Türkiye and taking a bus to the border. They were greeted by some officials at the border.

Most of the team's players left Australia last week, travelling through Malaysia and Oman on their way to Türkiye.

Two Iranian female players, Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, chose to remain in Australia and have been training with the Brisbane Roar club.

Others who initially sought asylum after the team was knocked out of the Women's Asian Cup later changed their minds and said they would return to Iran.

Iran's squad arrived in Australia for the tournament shortly before the Iran war began on February 28.

The team initially gained global attention after some players stayed silent during Iran's national anthem before their first game in the Asian Cup.

The silence was cast as an act of resistance or protest by some commentators and a show of mourning by others.

The players did not publicly disclose their views or explain their actions and sang the anthem before their next two matches.

When the team was knocked out of the tournament and faced the prospect of returning to a country under bombardment, calls grew for Australia's government to offer the women asylum.

Iranian groups in Australia and US President Donald Trump were among those who expressed fears for the women's safety.

Iranian first Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref last week dismissed suggestions the women would be unsafe if they returned home, saying the country "welcomes its children with open arms and the government guarantees their security."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-19/iran-war-womens-football-team-returns-home-australia/106471200

https://x.com/Tasnimnews_Fa/status/2034269519854596168

'Over-prepared': PM's pledge on growing fuel crisis

Tess Ikonomou and Zac de Silva - 19 March 2026

A fuel tsar will manage "unprecedented" supply issues caused by the Middle East conflict as the finishing touches are put on measures to address dire shortages in many regional areas.

The prime minister convened a snap virtual national cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss major price shocks and shortages driven by the US-Israel war on Iran.

The former chief executive of the Australian Energy Regulator, Anthea Harris, was announced as the co-ordinator of a fuel-supply taskforce.

She will oversee work involving the nation's different tiers of government on fuel-security and supply-chain issues.

The co-ordinator will give regular updates to the Commonwealth, states and territories on Australia's fuel-supply outlook and be a single point of contact for planning.

State leaders who demanded faster action and a long-term plan from the federal government have welcomed the move.

Anthony Albanese said there was a "good feeling of common purpose" during their meeting.

"My government will be announcing more measures to prepare the nation for supply chain challenges over coming days and weeks," the prime minister told reporters in Hobart.

"Our fuel supply is currently secure. However, I want us to be over-prepared."

His comments came as Australia's consumer watchdog launched an investigation into the major fuel suppliers, including Ampol, BP Australia and Mobil, over allegations of anti-competitive conduct.

The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission would assess issues relating to diesel availability to independent wholesalers and distributors servicing regional and rural communities.

"The ACCC is closely scrutinising all fuel markets during this period … we are therefore investigating these matters urgently," watchdog chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.

Regional fuel-buyers and retail outlets have complained of widespread shortages, leading to some petrol stations running dry.

The prime minister said it was wrong for any corporation to profiteer from the conflict.

An agreement to release extra petrol and diesel to regional areas suffering critical shortfalls was reached between Energy Minister Chris Bowen and fuel companies a day earlier.

NSW Premier Chris Minns backed the federal decision-making, adding that Australia's position at the end of supply chains in Asia made the pressure particularly intense.

"It's a near unprecedented situation to have an oil shock affecting global supplies of oil, petrol, jet fuel," he said.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said people had real concerns about access to affordable fuel, particularly among primary producers and in the mining industry.

"Our request on behalf of Queensland is very clear; we want two things to flow: information and fuel," he said.

Opposition energy spokesman Dan Tehan said Ms Harris needed to identify any gaps in supply and undertake an assessment of fertiliser stocks.

"The Albanese government is desperately trying to play catch-up to deal with the issues of fuel supply only a week after Chris Bowen claimed that Australia's fuel supplies were secure," he said.

On top of allowing fuel companies to release a week's worth of petrol and diesel from their emergency stockpiles, the government has eased quality standards to allow more fuel into the market.

Logistics companies have warned they are under significant pressure from fuel price rises, which will likely be passed on to shoppers.

https://au.news.yahoo.com/under-pump-extra-fuel-flow-180000850.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaL5-bqrGLY