A controversial right-wing Chinese media group has been distributing anti-communist newspapers in Wagga, following council's push to cut ties with its sister city in Kunming.
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The Epoch Times sent volunteers and staff from their Sydney office to Wagga as part of a long-running campaign led by members of the persecuted Falun Gong religious group.
The paper's spokesman Daniel Teng said the outlet firmly sided with Councillor Paul Funnell, labelling him "courageous" for instigating the motion to sever the ties.
"We want Wagga residents to know the truth about the cover-up by the communist Chinese regime on a number of issues [relating to COVID-19], including rate of infection, the casualty rate, and the narratives they're trying to promote," Mr Teng said.
Mr Teng insisted the Chinese government was to blame for covering up the true extent of the coronavirus pandemic, saying it mirrored the party's cover-up of the widespread execution of Falun Gong believers.
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The newspaper was founded to cover the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners in China, but has veered off into controversial waters with its anti-vaccination stance and support for nationalist parties.
Despite the controversy, Cr Funnell did not distance himself from their endorsement, saying they were "entitled to their own opinion".
He said he had received hundreds of supportive messages from other Chinese-Australians, and that his anger was directed at the Chinese government and not the Chinese people.
"I am appalled at racism and I don't understand it," Cr Funnell said.
"I want to support the Chinese people. I want to help the Chinese People. But this has nothing to do with the Chinese people - this is about the Chinese Communist Party."
Australia-China Relations Institute director James Laurenceson admitted China had "not been transparent" about the coronavirus in the beginning, but insisted they had come clean as of January 21.
He said China did shoulder some of the blame, but he said that countries like Australia and America were hardly blameless.
"Criticism of the Chinese government is all well and good, but we assumed places like the United States would be transparent and on top of the virus in their own country when that hasn't proved to be the case," Professor Laurenceson said.
"If you look at the Australian government's own data, you can see that our coronavirus outbreak hasn't come from China - most of our infections have come from cruise ships and the United States and the European Union."
Wagga Multicultural Council CEO Belinda Crain said she was "shocked" to discover a copy of The Epoch Times in her mailbox.
"I've never seen anything like this," Ms Crain said.
"This is not the time for this; it only spreads hatred."
Ms Crain said she was hoping council would quickly rescind its decision.
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
