China relations
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Pacific diplomacy
Australia fires Tomahawk missile for first time, spends $140m to China-proof Nauru
Faced with challenges in the Indo-Pacific, Australia revealed it test-fired a Tomahawk missile recently as it ramps up its long-range strike capability.
- by Matthew Knott
Latest
Opinion
Pacific diplomacy
Forget ping-pong. When competing with China, it’s rugby league diplomacy that matters
It’s the ultimate display of soft diplomacy, but when it comes to the brand new NRL team for Papua New Guinea, Australia’s playing hardball with China.
- by Matthew Knott
Exclusive
Pacific diplomacy
PNG minister says $600m NRL deal ‘nothing to do with China’
PNG’s foreign minister said its government had set aside more than $38 million to begin building facilities and a deal could be announced as early as next week.
- by Chris Barrett
Exclusive
Human rights
Why four Australian judges have become a hot topic spoken about in hushed tones in Hong Kong
Penny Wong has made her strongest comments yet on the decision by the judges to continue working in Hong Kong amid concerns about a crackdown on political dissent.
- by Lisa Visentin
Opinion
Opinion
Australia seems to think it can outsleep the sleeping giant. If only that were true
China’s ambassador to Australia said on Tuesday that Australia and China are “friends, not foes”. But friends are people who share common values.
- by Badiucao
‘I’m sorry’: Chinese ambassador expresses trade ban regret
China’s chief diplomat in Australia urged the nation not to let Donald Trump’s US election victory upend its improved relationship with Beijing.
- by Matthew Knott
Opinion
Philippines
He said, Xi said: Why Beijing may seek to exploit Philippine political divorce
The president and vice president of the Philippines are at each other’s throats. But the row is a potential proxy for a much more significant conflict.
- by Peter Hartcher
‘Most serious in history’: China’s hacking reaches deep into US telecoms
Only in the past week has it become clear that “every major” communication company has been broken into by the Chinese spy group Salt Typhoon.
- by David E. Sanger and Julian E. Barnes
Opinion
Global warming
How climate-denier Trump may leave China to save the planet
Xi Jinping will take great delight in showing the world how decadent the US becomes under Donald Trump when it comes to global warming. The planet may be the winner.
- by Ross Gittins
‘Turnaround’: Xi talks up China ties in G20 talks with Albanese
The Chinese president has acknowledged the “twists and turns” in Beijing’s relations with Australia during a meeting that sought to cement a strategic partnership rocked by trade disputes.
- by David Crowe
‘Dangerous’: Caroline Kennedy blasts cousin RFK Jr’s vaccine views
The departing US ambassador said: “I grew up with him, so I’ve known all this for a long time; others are just getting to know him.”
- by Matthew Knott