Australians at risk of arbitrary arrest in China

The Australian Federal Government has issued new travel advice warning Australians they may face "arbitrary detention" if they go to mainland China.

New advice is likely to further unsettle relations already strained by trade disputes, allegations of espionage and the national security law for Hong Kong

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)'s Smart Traveller website reissued its advisory today, warning Australians of the possibility of quarantine and imprisonment if they enter China.

Apart from the warning about the risk of arbitrary detention, the update on Australia’s Smartraveller website on Tuesday noted that China would not allow most foreigners to enter the country at the current time. It said direct flights between China and Australia had significantly reduced.

The department was already advising travellers not to travel to China — or anywhere overseas — because of the coronavirus pandemic. That level of advice has not changed.

The new advice comes as tensions between the two countries continue to simmer in the wake of the Morrison Government's push for a global inquiry into China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

The push sparked a tit-for-tat with China, with Beijing urging its citizens not to travel to Australia due what it said was a spike in racism towards Chinese visitors.

Australians are banned from leaving the country for overseas travel unless they are granted an exemption by the Federal Governm

Last week, Prime Minister Scott Morrison also confirmed the Government was "actively considering" offering safe haven to Hong Kongers after controversial national security laws were imposed on the special administrative region by China.