The US defence secretary Jim Mattis has issued a strong warning to the Chinese that there would be consequences for the continued militarisation of islands in the South China Sea.
He said at the Shangri-la defence talks in Singapore that the placement of weapons there was for the purpose of intimidation and coercion.
Australia’s Defence Minister Marise Payne also attended the meeting, and said that some of China’s activities in the South China Sea were unacceptable and as a result, it was not welcome at the upcoming Rim of the Pacific naval exercise.
Duration: 5min 32sec
Broadcast: Tue 5 Jun 2018, 8:16am
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Marise Payne, Australian Defence Minister
