Uyghur-Australian whose family is trapped in China says the Communist regime is engaging in hostage diplomacy amid Wuhan lab row
- Sadam Abdusalam's wife and son have been trapped in Xinjiang for three years
- The activist, living in SA, told Q+A Chinese police took his wife into questioning
- He said he was concerned it was punishment for Australia pushing a virus inquiry
- Human Rights Watch director Elaine Pearson said that it appeared to be the case
- She called on the government to act and for the incident to be investigated
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
A Uyghur-Australian father has accused China of keeping his family hostage in China in retribution for Australia's calls for a global inquiry into the origins of COVID-19.
Sadam Abdusalam's wife and Australian citizen son have been trapped in China's Xinjiang province for three years as part of the communist regime's systemic persecution of its Uyghur population, a minority Muslim ethnic group.
Appearing on ABC's Q+A from Adelaide on Monday night, Mr Abdusalam said he was concerned they were being used as pawns in the spat between Canberra and Beijing over coronavirus.
'Last week she was taken to a Chinese police station and questioned for six hours. This is hostage diplomacy isn't it? What can the Australian government do save my wife and Australian wife and baby? I haven't seen them for three years,' he said.
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Sadam Abdusalam (pictured) said Chinese police questioned his wife for six hours in what he believes was an act of 'hostage diplomacy' in response to Australia's push for an inquiry into COVID-19
Tensions between the two nations, stirred further by the coronavirus crisis, became a central focus of discussion for Monday's panellists.
Those seated along the bench included Liberal MP for Wentworth Dave Sharma, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Lowy Institute executive director Michael Fullilove and Australia director of Human Rights Watch, Elaine Pearson.
Ms Pearson called on the Australian Government to do more to help the family.
'Has the Australian Government actually sent someone to Xinjiang to try and bring back his son and his wife? I think that really has to happen,' she said.
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'It's completely unacceptable for the Chinese Government to be using an Australian child effectively as a hostage in this sort of political negotiation.'
Host Hamish Macdonald asked Ms Pearson if she thought the questioning was connected to Australia's support for an investigation.
Ms Pearson said that appeared to be the case and that she hoped the Australian Foreign Minister will conduct a probe into the incident.
Australia's call for the World Health Organisation to launch an inquiry into the initial handling of the outbreak angered China, which says it is conducting its own investigation through the Chinese Communist Party, which should be enough.
The move has prompted backlash from several Chinese advocates, condemning Australia's involvement.
Mr Abdusalam has been torn apart from his wife Nadila (right) he has not met his three-year-old son Lufty (left) who remain in the Xinjiang region of China
Last week, Chinese ambassador, Cheng Jingye warned the inquiry could lead to a boycott of Australian products in China.
A day later, Hu Xijin, the editor of the state-run Global Times, called Australia 'gum on the sole of China's shoes'.
'After the epidemic, we need to have more risk awareness when doing business with Australia and also when we send our children to study there,' he wrote in a Weibo post on Tuesday.
'Australia is always there, making trouble. It is a bit like chewing gum stuck on the sole of China's shoes. Sometimes you have to find a stone to rub it off.'
The bitter war of words continued this week, with Shanghai academic Professor Chen Hong telling 60 Minutes on Monday that Australia had stabbed China in the back.
'Australia is being and acting as a kind of divisive role, trying to point fingers, even stab at the back of China. This is actually not fair,' he told reporter Tara Brown.
However, Mr Fullilove said on Monday the Chinese diplomats were conducting 'wolf warrior diplomacy', that is, looking only to impress Beijing.
Chinese ambassador to Australia Cheng Jingye (pictured) warned Australia's push for an inquiry may lead to a boycott of Australian exports in China
He said, despite the view Australia is more reliant on the nations' trade arrangements, it is also in China's interests to restore the relationship as Australia supplies many of the resources that fuel China's economic growth.
'The world is watching how China behaves towards Australia here,' he said.
In discussions on the 'post COVID-19 world order', Q+A viewer Subhash Bhagava asked if Australia should redefine its priorities, reliance, and dependence on the countries considered 'friends' when the pandemic ends.
But Senator Wong claimed Australia has no choice but to keep trading with China even if it disagrees with its values.
Despite the resulting strain, Ms Pearson said Australia made the right decision to stand up to China, which she described as a 'bully' that is not used to being challenged.
She said Australia's actions were in line with how any responsible global power should respond to the pandemic.
'The whole world is affected by this pandemic and I really think it's important that other countries come on board,' Ms Pearson said.
'I think China is showing it's a bully. The way you deal with bullies is you don't just roll over and lie down. You do have to stand up to them.'
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