“The disinformation we have seen contributes to a climate of fear and division when at a time like this what we need is cooperation and understanding,” she said.

“I can say emphatically that Australia will welcome students and visitors from all over the world, regardless of race, gender or nationality,” Payne said. “Our law enforcement agencies can, will, do respond to individual crimes and we will continue to move beyond this pandemic true to our status as the world’s most successful multicultural society. The prime minister and the government have repeatedly called out racist behaviour.”

Payne said Australia had an “important” relationship with China but the sides had areas of disagreement that should be resolved in a productive manner.

“It is one which is based on mutual benefit and mutual respect, but there will be differences and those differences need to be addressed constructively,” she said.

Payne also defended Canberra’s push for an independent international inquiry into the coronavirus, which has strained relations with Beijing, describing it as “a perfect demonstration of what Australia is about in 2020 – playing an active role, exerting our influence, using our capacity in alignment with our values”.

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China says bilateral relations not related to death penalty sentence for Australian in drugs case

China says bilateral relations not related to death penalty sentence for Australian in drugs case

“There are times to pursue quiet diplomacy behind the scenes. But there are also times to voice our concerns and to persuade others of the need for a course of action,” she said.

“By all means we can be small in our thinking, timid in purpose and risk averse, or alternatively, and in my view vitally necessary, we can be confident, we can believe in Australia’s role in the world and prioritise Australia’s sovereignty and Australia’s long term interests by making the difficult decisions and choices.”

‘You Chinese virus spreader’: after Covid, Australia has racism outbreak to deal with

“In the wake of this devastating health crisis, Australia wants to see a stronger WHO that is more independent and transparent,” she said.

“We cannot let the vital and practical work that the WHO does on the ground be overshadowed by questions about the approach of its headquarters in Geneva.”

The remarks by Australia’s chief diplomat come at a time of heightened tensions in the increasingly fraught relationship between Canberra and Beijing.

In addition to the travel warnings, China has in recent weeks introduced restrictions on Australian imports of beef and barley, with both moves widely seen as retaliation for Canberra’s push for an inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic.

On Saturday, a Chinese court sentenced Australian man Karm Gilespie to death for drug trafficking, nearly seven years after the actor-turned-entrepreneur abruptly dropped out of contact with friends and business partners without explanation. Although Prime Minister Scott Morrison has expressed concern about the case, his government has refrained from drawing any direct link to the tensions. Beijing has denied any link between the inquiry and Gilespie’s case, the trade measures or its travel advisories.

Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute – which is part-funded by Australia’s Department of Defence, the US State Department and Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office – said Payne’s remarks were a “considered” response to a “bullying approach” by Beijing.

“The Chinese Communist Party is making a disastrous mistake in pushing all countries in the region into a corner,” Jennings said. “Australia will stand up for its interests, as will all countries when China’s behaviour forces such black and white responses.”