China has decided it wants to 'punish Australia'

Former Labor Minister Stephen Conroy says Australia's relationship with China is in a difficult place not because of anything the Morrison government has done, but due to "the behaviour of the Chinese government".

Australians have been warned they face the risk of arbitrary detention in China after the Department of Foreign Affairs upgraded its travel advice to the mainland.

The government advised Australians not to travel to China due to foreigners having been detained in Beijing for "endangering national security".

Mr Conroy told Sky News host Chris Kenny the Communist Party of China is "filthy" at Australia for a number of reasons.

"They are absolutely filthy that we have stood up to them on the rollout of the 5G network," he said.

"They are filthy about our criticism of them breaking their international treaty obligations in Hong Kong.

"They're filthy in us standing up to them in the South-China Sea ... and so the Chinese have decided they want to punish Australia".

Image: AP

Видео China has decided it wants to 'punish Australia' канала Sky News Australia