Australia is racing to stop China from signing a new regional security deal with as many as 10 Pacific island nations following the controversial pact between Beijing and Solomon Islands.
Macron reminded PM Albanese of the “deep breach of trust” which had occurred in an ugly chapter in Franco-Australian relations last year following the cancellation of a $90 billion submarine contract.
Secret meetings and subterfuge over many months shored up Australia’s “40-year fantasy” of a mighty nuclear marriage with the US and the UK.
Authorities have released a video of the People's Liberation Army-Navy intelligence collection vessel Haiwangxing operating off the north-west shelf of Australia.
National security had been seen as one of the Coalition’s biggest strengths heading into the election.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton labelled the move an “aggressive act”.
Federal Defence Minister Peter Dutton has accused Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan of politicising the country’s relationship with China.
Scott Morrison was federal treasurer at the time the port was sold to Chinese company Landbridge in a $506 million deal.
A tender will be released to build a new naval maintenance centre in Sydney as part of a commitment to establish four new strategic sites around the country.
The head of the spy agency has suggested an increasing number of disaffected Chinese officials are feeding information to Australian intelligence officers.
The Chinese and Russian militaries have been banned from attending a major military trade show in Sydney,as concern heightens about the recently signed security agreement between China and Solomon Islands.