The US, UK, and Australia will deliver nuclear-powered submarines to Canberra as part of the Aukus partnership plan to counter Chinese activities in the Pacific Ocean.
China has criticized the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia for their agreement to develop new nuclear-powered submarines, claiming that they have “gone further down a perilous path.”
Following Rishi Sunak’s meeting with US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in San Diego, the next phase of the Aukus partnership plan has been announced.
Australia will receive nuclear-powered submarines to counter Chinese activities in the Pacific Ocean.
Reuters reported that the spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, Wang Wenbin, stated that the three countries had “ignored” the concerns of the international community.
The three countries have insisted that the agreement does not increase the danger of nuclear proliferation. The ships will be equipped with conventional armaments, and the nuclear reactors will be sealed shut.
Mr. Sunak stated that the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia would collaborate to “keep our oceans free” using a new generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines.
The British prime minister stated, “For the first time, three fleets of submarines will work together across both the Atlantic and Pacific to keep our oceans free, open, and prosperous for decades to come.”
In 2021, the Aukus partnership was first announced. Since then, the United Kingdom has published an integrated review of its foreign and security policy, which emphasizes China’s “more aggressive stance.”
President Biden stated that when it comes to assuring the security of the Pacific, the United States could not ask for “better partners” than the United Kingdom and Australia.
Mr. Biden responded, “No,” when asked if he feared China would perceive the AUKUS submarine deal as an act of aggression. He stated that he anticipated speaking with Chinese leader Xi Jinping shortly, but he did not specify when.
Last month, he had stated that he expected to talk with his Chinese counterpart about a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that had flown through American airspace, further straining already tense relations between the two nations.
On the instructions of President Biden, the US military shot down the balloon on 4 February off the coast of South Carolina, after spotting it for the first time on 28 January.
Reportedly, it had flown over several sensitive military installations.
Last week, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated that the United States desired to resume regular communications with China.
“Over the course of eighteen months, we have communicated with (China) about Aukus and sought additional information about their intentions,” he added, referring to China’s military buildup, which includes nuclear-powered submarines.
Mr. Wenbin stated on Wednesday that China and the United States were maintaining necessary communications, adding, “We believe that the value and significance of communication are to enhance understanding and manage differences, not for communication’s sake.”
