Australia Ends China Deals on National Interest Grounds

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - Australia has canceled two Chinese "Belt and Road" infrastructure building initiative deals with a state government, provoking an angry response from Beijing. 

The bilateral deals with Victoria state were among four vetoed under new laws that give the federal government power to overrule international agreements by lower-level administrations that violate the national interest, Foreign Minister Marise Payne said late Wednesday.  The "Belt and Road" deals struck with Beijing in 2018 and 2019 triggered the legislative response.  Victoria Education Department pacts signed with Syria in 1999 and Iran in 2004 were also canceled.