Protesters heckle Chinese ambassador to Australia
China's new ambassador to Australia chided human rights protesters who heckled him Friday during a speech about the future of frosty relations between the two countries.
Xiao Qian, who has only been in the role since January, had just begun his speech when the first protesters interjected, calling for freedom for Tibet and Hong Kong.
The ambassador was repeatedly interrupted by sign-wielding protestors, some criticising China's treatment of the Uyghur people as well as the university for inviting Xiao to speak.
"People who are coming again and again to interrupt the process, that's not an expression of freedom of speech... this should not be welcomed," the ambassador said.
James Laurenson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute, which invited Xiao to campus, said the university "welcomes freedom of speech on campus... that right, however, does not extend to speaking over the top of invited guests."
During the ambassador's speech, one protester was escorted from the room by security as she yelled: "The University of Technology cannot platform a representative of a genocidal dictatorship."
Another protester's sign, which read "Free Tibet, Free East Turkestan", was ripped from his hands by a member of the audience.
