Morrison called the tweet “truly repugnant” and “deeply offensive” and demanded an apology from China. But China did not back down, saying that Australia should be the one examining its actions.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying on Thursday declined to comment further on the controversy, and told reporters at a daily briefing that WeChat’s management had their “own rules and regulations”.

On Thursday, Morrison took a much different approach, telling reporters in Canberra that his aim was for the two countries to have a “happy coexistence”.

“My position and my government’s position is to seek constructive engagement,” he said.

“The relationship with China is a mutually beneficial one. It supports both our countries, it is good for both of our countries.” China is Australia’s largest trading partner.

Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said he was disappointed about both the tweet and the deleted post. “What the prime minister did in his WeChat message before it was disappointingly deleted was he made it very clear Australia is proud of its servicemen and women who wear the uniform,” Frydenberg said.

The Global Times, controlled by Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece People’s Daily, suggested New Zealand is “like bleating sheep” in backing Australia over the controversial tweet. It also suggested Ardern was effectively coerced into supporting Australia.

On Tuesday, Ardern said New Zealand supported Canberra’s position and voiced her government’s concerns with Chinese authorities.

“This is an image that wasn’t factual. It wasn’t correct. And so in keeping with our principled position where images like that are used, we will raise those concerns and we’ll do it directly,” she said.

In reply, the Global Times published an editorial denouncing New Zealand, claiming “Kiwis bleat like Aussie sheep but don’t condemn Afghan killings”.

Echoing comments by China’s foreign ministry, the piece conceded the image in the tweet was fake but justified it by saying it was “based” on allegations of incidents involving Australian soldiers.

“The consecutive moves of Canberra and Wellington to describe the cartoon as ‘false’ or ‘unfactual’ are actually trying to shift people’s attention away from Australian troops’ brutality against Afghan civilians,” it said.

The editorial claimed Ardern was effectively forced into making the statement due to the closeness of trans-Tasman relations. “Arden’s statement has nothing to do with being wise or unwise; it is something she has to say.”

The Global Times noted the “restraint” in Arden’s language, but criticised her for a “double standard”.

“Ardern has demonstrated that New Zealand will not stop playing double-standard tricks the West uses so often. This is also part of the so-called Western values – the freedom to be hypocrites.”

The rift between Beijing and Canberra has grown since the Australian government called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. China has since imposed tariffs and other restrictions on a number of Australian exports. New Zealand has yet to face trade difficulties with China.