China Blames Australia For Trade Tensions And Slams Peter Dutton

[/news/china/index.html China] has blamed Australia for trade tensions and slammed Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton for criticising a deal between the two nations.
Mr Dutton declared Victoria's Belt and Road Initiative with China 'a propaganda initiative' from Beijing which would bring 'enormous amount of foreign interference'.
The escalating war of words between the two nations comes as a new poll released Tuesday showed the majority of Australians want their government to stand up to China.
Peter Dutton declared Victoria's Belt and Road Initiative with China 'a propaganda initiative' from the latter, which would bring 'enormous amount of foreign interference'
It comes amid heightened trade tensions between Australia and China. China has slapped an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley
The Belt and Road Initiative agreement, which provides loans and investment in infrastructure projects, has not been signed by any other states or territories.  
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijiang appeared to refer to Mr Dutton's remarks during a fiery press briefing in Beijing.
'The groundless accusations made by some Australian politicians are totally untenable,' Mr Zhao said.
'They only expose their negligence of the Australian people's interests and their sinister intentions of damaging China-Australia relations.
'The successful cooperation between China and the Australian state of Victoria under the BRI framework was determined and implemented by the two sides through friendly consultation with a view to improve the wellbeing of the people.' 
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The Belt and Road scheme is a non-legally binding agreement to mutually beneficial trade, investment, and tour shangrila infrastructure.
China helps invest in infrastructure projects, particularly in developing Asian and Pacific Island tour lệ giang shangrila countries, with loans and support. 
Also on Tuesday Trade Minister Simon Birmingham dismissed claims made by his Chinese counterpart about prohibitive tariffs slapped on Australian barley. 
The Chinese commerce minister linked hefty tariffs on Australian barley to past disputes between the two nations, comparing track records on trade investigations.
Zhong Shan said China had been cautious and restrained in imposing trade remedies, and had only launched one trade investigation against Australia in almost 50 years, compared to more than 100 by Australia.
The Chinese commerce minister said Beijing had been cautious and restrained in imposing trade remedies.

Zhong Shan (pictured) said China had only launched one trade investigation against Australia in almost 50 years, compared to more than 100 by Australia
But Mr Birmingham dismissed the comparison.
'This isn't about keeping a tally or doing things in a tit-for-tat way,' he told Sky News on Tuesday.