American politicians say they love Australia and China should stop being mean to Australia!

Take that China! A strongly worded letter!


Washington: A bipartisan group of US Congress members has blasted China for threatening economic retaliation against Australia, following the Morrison government's call for an independent investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a letter to Australia's US Ambassador Arthur Sinodinos, the 27 senators and House of Representatives members said that China had made "deeply disturbing" threats to punish Australia for seeking an international inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.

"This incident is part of a broader and concerning pattern from the Chinese government," the politicians said in the letter.

"As we continue to confront this deadly disease and its consequences, we will be faced with many tough decisions, including those that may arise from the Chinese government’s continued lack of cooperation and transparency.

"No matter the external pressure or coercion, we will always have Australia’s back, just as Australia has always had ours."

The bipartisan group includes Republican Senator Marco Rubio, Republican House member Liz Cheney and the co-chairs of the Friends of Australia caucus, Democrat Joe Courtney and Republican Mike Gallagher.

In late April China's Ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye warned that Chinese consumers could boycott Australian products and universities if the country keeps pushing for an investigation into the origins of the outbreak.

"Maybe the ordinary people will say ‘Why should we drink Australian wine? Eat Australian beef?'" Cheng said in an interview with The Australian Financial Review.

Describing the Cheng's comments as "deeply disturbing and thinly-disguised threats of retaliation", the group of lawmakers said: "We unequivocally oppose this behaviour and strongly support Foreign Minister Marise Payne’s rejection of 'any suggestion that economic coercion is an appropriate response to a call for such an assessment'."

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