MPs' 'loose talk' drives Australia's relationship with China to very low point, former defence chief warns

Angus Houston calls for a circuit breaker' as Australian coal reportedly becomes the latest target of Chinese authorities

China is Australia's partner, not an enemy, the former Australian defence chief Angus Houston has declared, as he accused some politicians of engaging in loose talk" that had helped drive the relationship between Canberra and Beijing to a very low point".

As BHP revealed some Chinese customers had recently deferred coal purchases from the mining giant, Houston warned of the impact of ill-disciplined public comments and called for a reset" of the relationship.