Australia election 2022: Peter Dutton claims Penny Wong would appease her 'dear friend' Xi Jinping

Peter Dutton has claimed Penny Wong would launch a 'charm offensive' with her 'dear friend' Chinese President Xi Jinping if Labor wins power. Senator Wong, Labor's foreign affairs spokesperson, has repeatedly criticised Mr Dutton over his harsh rhetoric on China in recent months, including accusing him of 'amping up the prospect of war' by pledging Australia would fight to protect Taiwan. In Parliament earlier this year Mr Dutton claimed China wants Labor to win the May 21 election and even labelled deputy Labor leader Richard Marles a 'Manchurian candidate', a phrase used to describe a politician working for an enemy. Asked to explain those remarks, Mr Dutton claimed Senator Wong's 'language' was evidence that Labor would appease China. He said: 'Penny Wong believes that she can go to Beijing on a charm offensive and she could change the direction of China under President Xi.'President Xi, of course, would be laughing under his breath as he was entertaining his dear friend in Beijing'. China has reinforced territorial claims in the South China Sea, killed Indian troops in the Himalayas, and frequently flown fighter jets over Taiwan. Labor deputy leader Richard Marles said Mr Dutton was all about words and not action on keeping Australia safe.