China demands Australia stop 'exaggerating tensions' over South China Sea
ABC •
Published: July 22, 2026 at 08:30 PM
by By South-East Asia correspondent Tim Swanston and foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded Australia stop "exaggerating tensions and inciting confrontation" over the South China Sea after Penny Wong warned Beijing against "destabilising" conduct in the region.