News Analysis
Chinese authorities ended an unofficial ban on Australian coal import earlier this year, but Australia’s recent efforts to strengthen its defense force angered China’s communist leaders.
The U.S. State Department on March 16 approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of up to 220 Tomahawk cruise missiles to Australia. This approval came just three days after the leaders of the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia announced a trilateral agreement enabling Australia to purchase nuclear-powered attack submarines from the two nuclear powers.
On March 14, the day after the release of the trilateral agreement, China’s state media warned that as Beijing recently lifted all remaining restrictions on Australian coal imports, “Australia ought to cherish this special opportunity.”…