China has criticised Australia's former international development minister for her comments about the "debt trap" struggles of Pacific nations.
Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells wrote in The Australian last week that China's use of loans to fund infrastructure in the Pacific was similar to World War II battles.
"Today, the sovereign threat is less confrontational but the debt-trap diplomacy just as insidious," Senator Fierravanti-Wells wrote.
"The high debt-to-gross domestic product ratio of various Pacific island countries is of genuine concern."
The Chinese embassy hit back on Monday, accusing her of "unwarranted invective and blatant slander against China".
"The ridiculous and absurd allegation, filled with cold-war mentality, reflected the senator's prejudice, arrogance and ignorance," an embassy statement said.
"Whether China's assistance is productive or not ... the people of the island countries have the best say."
Tongan Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva recently aired concerns the Chinese would seize facilities built with their money if the Pacific country couldn't meet its debt repayments.
He later said China had never claimed it would take Tonga's assets.
"Cooperation between China and the Island Countries is transparent and open," the Chinese embassy said.
"Any attempt to obstruct the development of relations between China and the island countries is doomed to failure."
