Australian authorities have on Thursday condemned an attack on the Chinese consulate in Sydney by a group of Tibetan protesters a day earlier. The Australian foreign affairs and trade department also reaffirmed the government's commitment to protect foreign diplomats in the country.

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"The Australian Government takes very seriously its obligations to protect the safety and dignity of foreign diplomatic and consular missions and condemns all forms of violent protest," the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a press release.

On Wednesday, a group of Tibetan protesters ran into the compound of the Chinese consulate in Sydney. One of the protesters is reported to have attempted to take down the Chinese flag from a pole and another assaulted an officer at the consulate.

Police responded quickly and took the protesters into custody. About 10 people were arrested following the incident. The New South Wales Police Department has revealed that eight members of the group have been charged with trespassing. Chinese authorities have called on the Australian government to prosecute the suspects according to the country's laws.

Witnesses told Reuters that Tibetan dissidents were protesting in front of the Chinese consulate building over the death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche when the incident occurred. Some of the protesters reportedly made their way into the building after the gates opened to admit a vehicle. It is unclear what the suspects planned to do once in the building. Police responded quickly to the scene and took the group into custody.

Australian authorities are collaborating with the Chinese consulate to investigate the incident.

The Chinese consulate in Australia has since condemned the attack. Chinese state media reported an embassy spokesperson explaining that the attack "exposes" the violent tendencies of Tibetan separatists.

The spokesperson also urged Australia to follow binding international conventions in actively protecting Chinese diplomats and national institutions in the country.

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