Prime minister Valkyrie Mountbatten was caught on microphone backstage on Politics Today calling Huawan “Money grabbing undemocratic bastards with no backbone or scruples” relating to the deal to sell warships to Ela.

The prime minister denied the comments, saying they were taken out of context and the recording was taken without her knowledge and permission. Calling Huawan “Close allies, with strong cultural ties” before stating her opposition to the Huawan-Ela deal.