Australians ‘at risk of arbitrary detention’ in China, government warns
Australia has issued new travel advice for China warning its citizens they risk arbitrary detention on national security grounds, in a development likely to inflame simmering tensions between Canberra and Beijing.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Tuesday updated its website to warn Australians of heightened risks of travel in China. Relations are already strained by trade disputes, allegations of espionage and the new national security law for Hong Kong.
“Authorities have detained foreigners because they’re ‘endangering national security’,” the updated advice for China on government website Smartraveller said. “Australians may also be at risk of arbitrary detention.”