The defence minister, Marise Payne, has supported Julie Bishop’s comments that China’s reputation will suffer if it ignores an international court ruling on the South China Sea. She said the foreign minister’s assertion that the court ruling was binding was “completely consistent” with Australia’s historical position, and called on all parties involved in the dispute to “abide by the ruling”. “We regard it as final, and as binding,” Payne said on Friday. Read more
