Technical, page-517

Could this have any influence on Lynas and its operations in Malaysia ?.

Key points:

• Malaysia and Indonesia have criticised Australia's decision, while Singapore and Japan added support
• France will cancel a planned trilateral meeting with Australia and India at the UN next week
• But a top diplomat for the EU says it remains committed to building its relationship with Australia

"Prime Minister Scott Morrison rang Malaysia's new Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob last week as part of a broader high-level diplomatic push designed to reassure regional leaders.

He wanted to explain Australia's rationale for scrapping a $90 billion submarine contract with the French company Naval Group in favour of nuclear submarines with US and UK technology.

But in a public statement, Mr Yaakob said he had raised concerns about the project with Mr Morrison, and warned that the nuclear submarine project might heighten military tensions in Asia.

"At the same time, it will provoke other powers to take more aggressive action in this region, especially in the South China Sea," Mr Yaakob said."