SYDNEY, April 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese community group in Australia on Tuesday defended its call on the Federal Government to "support peace" on issues regarding the South China Sea.
The Australian Action Committee for Peace and Justice said on Tuesday that its advice, which was made before Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's first official visit to China in mid April, is based on the judgment of maintaining peace and justice, and desire for a healthy relationship between China and Australia.
"We do not hope Australia makes a wrong decision to 'choose a side' without understanding the complicated historical and cultural relationships and emotions that are involved in that area," the group said in a statement sent to Xinhua on Tuesday.
The group made the statement after some local media reports saying the group only did that for their own business interests.
The group highlighted the need for the Australian government to avoid being unnecessarily involved in the competition between big countries in the area and ultimately harm the benefits of its people, among them Chinese Australians as a result.
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