More comments from deputy Labor leader Richard Marles praising China’s role in the Pacific have emerged, and Neil Mitchell says he must address them urgently.

The Australian reports Mr Marles said China was “unquestionably a force for good” in a Q&A session after a speech at Oxford University in 2017.

In the same session, he reportedly said the disputes in the South China Sea were “not an issue for Australia”.

It comes after comments the Deputy Labor leader made in 2019, praising China’s influence in the Pacific, came to light last week.

Neil Mitchell says Mr Marles has a lot to answer to.

“He praised the Chinese president, who at the very least is expansionist and dangerous and dishonest,” the 3AW Mornings host said.

“He defended their human rights record!

“Admittedly this was a few years ago but China’s abuse of human rights has been there for years and they have not been a force for good for some years, but here we have the man who would be deputy prime minister cosying up to China.

“He must fully and completely retract the statement. So far he’s danced around his support for China. Well does he still think China is a force for good in the world? Does he still think their human rights record is acceptable? Does he accept the concentration camps for Uighurs? Does he accept Australian citizens being locked up without trial?

“Richard Marles, on these words, doesn’t deserve to be deputy prime minister. He must withdraw them, or stand up for them if he believes in them.

“We deserve to know and to judge him accordingly.”

Press PLAY below to hear Neil’s message to Richard Marles in full

Image (Marles): Sam Mooy/Getty Images

Neil Mitchell: Deputy Labor leader has been ‘extraordinarily naive’ about China