China accuses Australia of diverting attentions from soldiers' killing Afghan people

China's foreign ministry has  accused the Australian government of diverting attention away from Australian soldiers' killings of Afghan people, instead to "a show of strength and hardline attitude towards China."

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday said he was seeking an apology from Beijing after a tweet by a Chinese official showed an image of an Australian soldier slitting a child's throat.

"The real purpose is nothing more than diverting attentions" said Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, in response at a regular news briefing on Tuesday.

Earlier Tuesday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said New Zealand had voiced its concerns directly with Chinese authorities, saying the image "wasn't factual" and "wasn't correct."

Hua said it was "truth that's backed by evidence including pictures, as well as by the Australian defence ministry's report."

The incident is further increasing tensions between the two nations in a relationship that was already under strain.

(Image credit: AP)