June 4, 2026
World
World
SYDNEY, June 4 — Tech giant Meta has criticised Australia’s “grossly unfair” proposal to require social media companies to pay for news content, saying it strongly opposes the draft legislation.
BEIJING, May 27 — China has warned against countries “forming cliques” and provoking confrontation, after foreign ministers from the United States, India, Japan and Australia voiced concerns over tensions in the East and South China Seas.
The comments came after the so-called Quad grouping, meeting in New Delhi yesterday, raised alarm over “dangerous manoeuvres by military aircraft” as well as “ramming and blocking actions” in the South China Sea. In a joint statement, the ministers also reiterated their opposition to “destabilising or unilateral actions” that could threaten regional stability.
China, which has often expressed scepticism toward the Quad alliance, rejected the remarks and urged against interference in its maritime affairs.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a briefing that the situation in the East and South China Seas remained “overall stable”.
She added that “relevant countries should stop interfering in maritime issues around China and genuinely respect regional countries’ efforts to safeguard peace and stability,” stressing that “forming cliques, creating tension and provoking conflict are unpopular”.
Beijing claims vast areas of the strategic East and South China Seas, where it has ongoing disputes with countries including the Philippines and Japan over heavily contested waters that are key global shipping routes. — AFP
