AUKUS Has Serious Impact on Global Security: Chinese Envoy
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Salma Hossein
- . November 25, 2023
- . Update: November 25, 2023 3:37 pm
Collaborations like the AUKUS runs counter to the purpose and objectives of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), says China’s permanent representative to the IAEA Li Song. He called for intergovernmental discussions at the International Atomic Energy Agency to address the proliferation risks posed by the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal.
Li says this is a typical act of double standard. He said the AUKUS deal involves political, security, legal and technical issues. “It will create an important precedent and have a significant impact on the improvement and development of the IAEA safeguards system and relevant safeguards practices. All these are major issues that must be taken seriously, considered deeply, and handled properly by the IAEA member states.”
The Chinese official added that the development and improvement of the IAEA safeguards system has historically been achieved through consensus-based and member state-driven processes. It ensured the IAEA safeguards system to keep pace with the time.
What is AUKUS Deal
Through the AUKUS deal, the United Kingdom and the United States will empower Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarine. AUKUS is an agreement by the US to sell Australia three to five Virginia-class submarines beginning in 2032, the co-development of a new AUKUS-class submarine by the UK and Australia to service around 2040, and a multibillion-dollar pledge by all three countries to expand the capacity of a trilateral submarine industrial base.
Moreover, the AUKUS deal is to deter China and counter its growing military presence in the Asia-Pacific. AUKUS will make Australia more secure, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese saying acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines is necessary to deter aggression.
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AUKUS Triggered Arms Race
Besides strengthening Australia, AUKUS has triggered an arms race in Southeast Asian countries. It can potentially ratchet up military tensions in Asia. Tan Kefei, a spokesperson at the Chinese Defense ministry, liked the deal to a pandora’s box.
“Once a pandora’s box is opened, the regional strategic balance will be disrupted, regional security will be seriously threatened. China firmly opposes the establishment of the so-called trilateral security partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia. This small circle dominated by Cold War mentality is useless and extremely harmful.”
To counter AUKUS submarines, China is developing its own new generation of nuclear-armed submarines; the Type 096 ballistic missile submarine is expected to be operational before the end of the decade.
