The speech comes as the crisis in the Middle East escalates once again, driving up fuel prices by 40 cents in three weeks amid dwindling global oil reserves.<\/p>\n
Off the back of China\u2019s launch of a nuclear-capable submarine-launched missile in the South China Sea<\/a> earlier in July, Wong will say the test \u201ccame with too little information and notification\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt comes in the context of China\u2019s rapid military buildup, including of its nuclear arsenal, without the transparency or reassurance the region expects,\u201d the foreign minister will say.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich is why Australia has described the test as provocative and destabilising.\u201d<\/p>\n Wong met with China\u2019s foreign minister, Wang Yi, on the sidelines of Asean on Tuesday night AEST in their 12th meeting.<\/p>\n Wong had earlier criticised China\u2019s conduct as \u201cdestabilising and dangerous\u201d after the Philippine military accused the China Coast Guard of clubbing a Filipino sailor with a baton on Monday on a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue to register our concerns about China\u2019s vessels engaging in destabilising and dangerous conduct in the South China Sea, including towards Philippine, Vietnamese, Malaysian, and Indonesian vessels,\u201d Wong will say on Thursday.<\/p>\n China\u2019s long-range missile test in the South Pacific happened just hours after Australia signed a defence agreement with Fiji, inciting widespread condemnation<\/a>. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, expressed concern at the missile\u2019s long-range capabilities<\/a> and the possibility to cause \u201cconsiderable, considerable damage were it to be weaponised\u201d.<\/p>\n In Manila, Wong will also warn the region will suffer if the strait of Hormuz is \u201cweaponised\u201d and the US and Iran fail to maintain a ceasefire.<\/p>\n
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