East Timor president says China military cooperation was ‘never discussed’ 

Market Impact

China’s increasing assertiveness in efforts to form security ties with developing countries in close proximity to Australia have raised alarm bells in Canberra, and a recent shakeup of Australia’s defence has refocused on protecting its northern approaches. A Comprehensive Strategic Framework signed by East Timor during a meeting between Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and China’s President Xi Jinping in China last week covered development cooperation in agriculture and infrastructure, the Nobel laureate said in a telephone interview with Reuters.