Australian foreign minister Penny Wong is set to warn China that Australia and neighbouring nations will not be bullied by its 'provocative' actions, following the launch of a nuclear-capable submarine-launched missile.
Key facts
- Penny Wong will deliver the address on Thursday in the Philippines.
- The speech comes at the 59th Asean foreign ministers' meeting.
- Wong will criticise China's recent launch of a nuclear-capable submarine-launched missile.
- She will also caution world leaders against placing a toll on the strait of Hormuz.
Australia’s foreign affairs minister Penny Wong is preparing to warn China that Australia and other neighbouring nations will not be bullied by its “provocative” actions, according to the Guardian. The warning follows what the outlet described as another “destabilising and dangerous” incident this week involving China.
Wong is scheduled to deliver the address on Thursday in the Philippines, where the 59th Asean foreign ministers’ meeting is being held. The gathering brings together senior diplomats from across the region to discuss shared security and political concerns.
The speech will criticise China’s recent launch of a nuclear-capable submarine-launched missile, the Guardian reported. The launch is central to Australia’s concerns about China building its military and nuclear arsenal.
Beyond the focus on China, Wong will also caution world leaders against placing a toll on the strait of Hormuz. According to the Guardian, both Iran and the United States had threatened to do so amid a protracted conflict.
The remarks position Australia alongside its regional neighbours in pushing back against actions it views as escalatory. The address is expected to frame the situation within broader concerns over stability across the Indo-Pacific and key global shipping routes.
Why it matters
Tensions between China and its neighbours over military buildup carry significant implications for stability across the Indo-Pacific region. A direct warning from Australia at a major regional forum signals how governments are responding to what they view as escalating and provocative behaviour.
Frequently asked questions
Where and when will Penny Wong deliver her speech?
According to the Guardian, Wong will deliver the address on Thursday in the Philippines, where the 59th Asean foreign ministers' meeting is being held.
What specific action by China prompted the warning?
The Guardian reports the speech will criticise China's recent launch of a nuclear-capable submarine-launched missile.
What did Wong say about the strait of Hormuz?
She will caution world leaders against placing a toll on the strait of Hormuz, after both Iran and the US threatened to do so amid a protracted conflict, according to the Guardian.