Canberra shouldn't deceive itself

Due to the rising discrimination Asians, particularly Chinese, have been subject to in Australia amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, China has warned its citizens not to travel to Australia and advised students not to choose to study in the country, a normal move for countries in such circumstances.

But in a bid to make it out to be more than it is, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne has claimed that China's warning is "disinformation".

The facts show otherwise: The racial discrimination against Chinese and other Asians in Australia is well documented. Statistics from the Australian Human Rights Commission show that in the first quarter of 2020, hundreds of Asians complained of racial discrimination, which made up 25 percent of the complaints.