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While Australia is not to blame for the worsening of ties with China, the government needs to start repairing its relationship with Beijing before the situation threatens our national security, according to The Australian's Paul Kelly.

The Chinese government has hit back at the Department of Foreign Affairs warning that Australians face arbitrary detention if they travel to the Communist nation.

“The Chinese government always protects the safety and legitimate rights and interests of foreign nationals in China,” China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Zhao Lijian said at the MFA press conference.

Bilateral relations between Australia and China has soured since the federal government called for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

Mr Kelly told Sky News said the Australia-China relationship is now in a "downward spiral."

"I think this is a really dangerous and damaging situation," he said.

While I this is overwhelmingly the creation of what China has done, it's nonetheless dangerous, and we've got to try overtime to do something to build some sort of more meaningful and trusting communication."

Image: AP