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Australian ministers welcome World Health Assembly motion after China labels move 'a joke'

Leaders have agreed to launch an inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic as soon as possible after a resolution passed at the World Health Assembly.

Led by the European Union and co-sponsored by more than 130 World Health Organisation member states, the motion passed late on Tuesday night.

China appeared to bow to international pressure, agreeing at the last minute to formally support an eventual probe – but only "after the global epidemic is under control".

Earlier, China had lashed out at claims Australia's push for an international inquiry into the coronavirus had been vindicated, labelling it a "joke".

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Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses the World Health Assembly on May 18, 2020. (Twitter)
Speaking on Wednesday, Nationals senator Matt Canavan, a former resources minister, said China's comments were clearly provocative but hardly surprising.

"It's a cheap shot. It's a bit tawdry. It's unfortunate what's happened," Mr Canavan told Today.

"We are disappointed in the decisions of the Chinese Government, but look, every change, every crisis, which this is, creates an opportunity. So, we've got to focus now what other things we can do. We're actively seeking other markets for our barley.

"In my view, the Australian Government's done absolutely the right thing and we've been vindicated at the World Health Assembly."

In a joint statement, Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne and Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Australian government welcomed the adoption of the "landmark resolution".

"There is also a clear mandate to identify the source of the COVID-19 virus and how it was transmitted to humans, which will be necessary to prevent and reduce the risks of the emergence of new diseases that pass from animals to humans," the statement said.

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Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Health Greg Hunt during a press conference on the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic, at Parliament House in Canberra on April 9, 2020. (Alex Ellinghausen)

"Australia has been clear and transparent in calling for an independent review into COVID-19, which is an unprecedented global health and economic crisis.

"Australia will continue to be a consistent and constructive voice in the international community to advance and protect our national interest and the global interest."


READ MORE: China lashes out at Australia call for global pandemic investigation

Australia's push for the inquiry into the origin of the virus sparked fury from Beijing, with diplomatic ties between the two nations under intense pressure.

Senior government figures claim the inquiry vindicates the government's stance, prompting a scathing response from China's embassy in Australia.

"The draft resolution on COVID-19 to be adopted by the World Health Assembly is totally different from Australia's proposal of an independent international review," a spokesman told AAP on Tuesday.

"To claim the WHA's resolution a vindication of Australia's call is nothing but a joke."

Senior cabinet minister David Littleproud denied the investigation was about confronting China.

"This wasn't about persecution, this was about understanding a pandemic that 300,000 souls lost their lives to," he said in Toowoomba.

"We should be damn proud Australia is now leading the world."

Mr Hunt argued Australia's case for the inquiry at the assembly.

He said the probe should look at health risks from wildlife wet markets, where the virus is likely to have originated in China.

"We need to learn the lessons from this pandemic and ensure we have the strongest possible global health architecture, with an enhanced ability to prevent and respond to future outbreaks," he said.

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The WHO promised the review would happen at the earliest appropriate time.

The WHA resolution commits to an impartial, independent and comprehensive evaluation of the international response to the pandemic.

US President Donald Trump supported the probe by tweeting a link to an AAP/SBS story on the motion.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also backed the WHO-led review, saying his country had acted with openness, transparency and responsibility all along.

He promised China would stump up $3.1 billion over the next two years to help deal with the disease.

Australia's relations with China have come under further strain after Beijing slapped an 80 per cent tariff on barley imports and banned beef imports from four abattoirs.

COVID-19 has killed 100 people across Australia, with fewer than 600 cases still active out of more than 7000 total.

Four nursing homes in Melbourne have gone into lockdown after a resident from each were tested for the virus.

Three have returned positive results while results for a fourth are pending.

Tasmania expects to set a date for reopening its border in July once the third step of easing restrictions is taken.

– Reported with AAP

https://www.9news.com.au/national/c...y-motion/ff5ef437-417f-4168-8bc9-0a35437ebab7

This proves that the CCP is a joke with no backbone, just bully, tell lies, try and bully small nations, steal IP, and commit crimes against humanity, but Australia has lead the way in standing up to the CCP and their thugs who pretend t be "ambassadors".
China is far too arrogant at the moment, and they have no justification whatsoever to be doing that to the rest of the world.
I'm gonna support Australia a lot more, starting today, right here on this forum.
Bye for now.

You highlighted the WRONG SECTION, let me correct it for you.
"Led by the European Union" is a BIG DISGRACE to US and Australia.

US PUPPET Australia "BLAME CHINA" probe has been SIDELINED.
SHAMEFUL to try so hard to claim some credit from the successful impartial EU initiative.

People's English Comprehension is really bad, that this media is able to spin a 'BIG LOSS" for the US and Australia as a win.
And some members are jumping up and down, HILLARIOUS.
OR is it more of "WE LIED, WE CHEATED, WE STOLE" at work?
.
White people's nations have many allies, (and immigrants living there that are not white), and so do black and light-tanned skin-colored people's nations.

Face it, ever since tourism became popular, we have to SHARE THIS WORLD. :)
 
Looks like that Aussie gum stuck at the bottom of that CCP shoe is starting to become really really annoying.
 
Looks like that Aussie gum stuck at the bottom of that CCP shoe is starting to become really really annoying.

The Aussies are pissing off the Chinese.

Im happy actually that Australia has said no more and is holding China to be held accountable. A lot of the times our politicians were sucking up Chinese money it is seems our Politicians have woken up said enough is enough.

The Chinese cant run or hide. Judgement day is coming.
 
The Aussies are pissing off the Chinese.

Im happy actually that Australia has said no more and is holding China to be held accountable. A lot of the times our politicians were sucking up Chinese money it is seems our Politicians have woken up said enough is enough.

The Chinese cant run or hide. Judgement day is coming.

Yes, Australia has done a good job, we are just letting China show the world what they truly are like, brilliant by Australia.

Australia can 'walk and chew gum' in terms of diplomacy and calling out China

 
The Aussies are pissing off the Chinese.

Im happy actually that Australia has said no more and is holding China to be held accountable. A lot of the times our politicians were sucking up Chinese money it is seems our Politicians have woken up said enough is enough.

The Chinese cant run or hide. Judgement day is coming.
How much do you wanna bet, nothing will happen? I am more confident after this outcome and after US threatens to withdraw. They wanted to refund previously but after this resolution, Trump is pissed. Lol
 
China is far too arrogant at the moment, and they have no justification whatsoever to be doing that to the rest of the world.
I'm gonna support Australia a lot more, starting today, right here on this forum.
Bye for now.


White people's nations have many allies, (and immigrants living there that are not white), and so do black and light-tanned skin-colored people's nations.

Face it, ever since tourism became popular, we have to SHARE THIS WORLD. :)
Lol.. nobody will miss u. Loser!

The Aussies are pissing off the Chinese.

Im happy actually that Australia has said no more and is holding China to be held accountable. A lot of the times our politicians were sucking up Chinese money it is seems our Politicians have woken up said enough is enough.

The Chinese cant run or hide. Judgement day is coming.
Lol.. they change from hold China account to an independent inquiry on origin of covid-19. And u can self-comfort and claim it victory? You must be high on some quality grass.
 
China should then also start an international probe into wars like the iraq one where WMDs were claimed but never found, cou tries need to be punished for that. Also start probes into war crimes by US and NATO in many countries.
 
Lol.. nobody will miss u. Loser!

with all due respect, i don't appreciate being called a loser.

*you're* the one who spends too much time on this forum, not me.

and i didn't say i was leaving this forum from my many personal spheres of attention either ;)

thanks for the slap in the face though, i may have needed that to wake myself up again and to stay informed about the headlines floating around on *this* forum on Humanity's Mighty Internet ;) :D rofl. lol. :D
 
How do you bow down when you are agreinnh to what we wanted all along? An independent Inquiry to improve responses, Australia and US wanted China held responsible. Now the responses of all countries will be assessed, and we know who fck up big time right? Lol. Trump is now throwing tantrum, instead of only targeting China, he ended up having himself targeted too. Lolol

In 1 to 2 years time, ppl will want business back as usual. They need China to help them. With every industrial power fcked up, who else can supply the goods? Hahhahahahhahajaaj


China wanted a probe to improve on responses not looking for a scapegoat, hence the wording inquiry to look for weaknesses and improve upon it to prevent further disaster.
Organization like WHO is all about getting the member States to cooperate. Blaming and policing is not their mandate. I can already guess how their investigating report will look like.
 
https://www.businessinsider.com/china-who-outplayed-coronavirus-response-reckoning-2020-5
China outplayed the world on the day it was meant to face a reckoning over its coronavirus response

They managed to even convince the dumb OZ that it was a great resolution. Lolol
You should make a thread on this and highlight the following.

At Monday’s virtual World Health Assembly, countries were meant to vote on a draft motion, proposed by Australia, that would have begun an investigation into the source of the novel coronavirus and China’s role in the outbreak.

It likely would have cast an unflattering light on China’s early inaction and its suppression of information, which cost valuable days of preparation.
But that motion didn’t even make it to the table.

Instead, the assembly was presented with a watered-down draft motion from the European Union that called for a review on “lessons learned,” with few specifics.

VERY HILLARIOUS that China Haters are celebrating a BIG LOSS OF FACE for the US and Australia.
.
 
China is far too arrogant at the moment, and they have no justification whatsoever to be doing that to the rest of the world.
I'm gonna support Australia a lot more, starting today, right here on this forum.
Bye for now.


White people's nations have many allies, (and immigrants living there that are not white), and so do black and light-tanned skin-colored people's nations.

Face it, ever since tourism became popular, we have to SHARE THIS WORLD. :)

lol, when have you not been a china-hater, what exactly is new?
 
lol, when have you not been a china-hater, what exactly is new?
actually, i love China.

but that won't mean i won't speak up when arrogance in a nation reaches festering levels of intensity.

quite frankly, you've grown both fat and too rich, Chinese.
start sharing stuff with the world at lower prices again please.

like Trump told you to do, many times by now.

and the Australians are just worried about your endeavors in the South China Sea.
it's a temporary thing, caused by Chinese arrogance.

but it may take decades to fix itself, such situations.
 
China should know ‘you can’t shout at Australians and make them obey’

 
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