Beijing accuses Australia of harassing Chinese journalists

A combination still image taken from an ABC footage shows journalists Bill Birtles and Michael Smith talking to the media in Sydney, Australia, September 8, 2020. Australian Broadcasting Corporation via REUTERS

BEIJING/SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Chinese government accused Australia on Wednesday of "blatant irrational behaviour", harassment and violation of the rights of its journalists by searching and seizing items from the homes of four Chinese state media reporters.

Relations between the two major trading partners have become increasingly strained, and Beijing's revelation that Australia had conducted the raids in late June came as a well known Chinese academic confirmed that his Australian visa had been cancelled on security grounds.