Former Prime Minister Tony Abbot has come under fire from the Chinese embassy over comments on his recent visit to Taiwan.
In Taipei, Mr Abbot raised concerns about possible aggression from Beijing amid growing tensions between Taiwan and China.
Adamant about his visit to Taiwan as a private citizen, Mr Abbott says Beijing had “cancelled popular personalities in favour of a cult of the red emperor”, a reference to President Xi Jinping.
The Chinese Embassy in Canberra released a statement labelling Mr Abbott as a “failed and pitiful politician”.