Australia denied a media report today that China's ambassador had been recalled to Beijing on short notice.
Australian Broadcasting Corp reported that Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Ma Zhaoxu, had been unexpectedly summoned to Beijing for consultations. But Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Ma had not been recalled.
A Chinese embassy spokesman confirmed that Ma had returned to Beijing yesterday, but described the trip as "just a normal duty."
"He has to go back every year many times to report; that is normal," said the spokesman, who declined to give his name. He could not say how long Ma would be away.
