Protest organiser Tsewang Thupten told the crowd it was important to send a strong message to the visiting Chinese dignitary about his country’s appalling human rights record.

“We will never be silent! We will never be silent. We will have courage. We will have courage. We will never stop! We will never stop!” protesters chanted.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who met with Chinese counterpart Mr Wang earlier on Tuesday, told media that she pressed him about the suspended death sentence handed to Australian writer Yang Hengjun, and also on unwinding its remaining restrictions on Australian’s goods.