Aussie ex-ambassador stars in video from Communist Party mouthpiece

A Chinese Communist Party-owned news agency has released a video slamming Australia's politicians and media for supposedly leading a global wave of anti-China sentiment.

The China Daily video also attacks the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) think tank.

A former Australian ambassador to China, Geoff Raby, is featured claiming China had contributed greatly to regional peace and security.

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A clip of a parliamentary speech by long-serving Senator Kim Carr is also featured.

"There are hawks intent on fighting a new Cold War," Senator Carr says in the clip.

The video's titles single out Senator Carr's office for a "special thank you" for his contribution.

But his office said the China Daily's request for an interview had been declined, and that the clip had featured in the video simply after they pointed the agency to a video of the speech online.

Nonetheless, Scott Morrison said he had been "surprised" to see Senator Carr in the video.

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ASPI executive director Peter Jennings told 9News the nation had hardly contributed to regional peace, instead pointing to the illegal occupation of parts of the South China Sea and threats made to both Japan and Taiwan.

"In a democracy like Australia people are free to express their views without consequence, unlike China," Mr Jennings said.

"I think what China is really struggling with here is – to use a phrase – they can't handle the truth."