What happened?
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong will warn China against provocative actions as it builds military and nuclear arsenal, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and rising fuel prices. The warning comes after China's launch of a nuclear-capable submarine-launched missile in the South China Sea earlier in July.
Why it matters for Australia
The crisis in the Middle East has driven up fuel prices by 40 cents in three weeks amid dwindling global oil reserves. Australia's fuel prices have surged above 187 cents per litre in some cities, with the federal government considering restoring the fuel excise discount back to 32 cents.
What comes next?
Australia will continue to register its concerns about China's vessels engaging in destabilising and dangerous conduct in the South China Sea, including towards Philippine, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Indonesian vessels. The country will also warn the region against placing a toll on the strait of Hormuz after both Iran and the US threatened to do amid the protracted conflict.
