The Government of China has asked Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States on Wednesday to revoke the AUKUS military agreement to develop nuclear-powered submarines, while warning that the pact carries a “risk” of proliferation of nuclear weapons.
One of the spokespersons for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Zhao Lijian , has insisted on Beijing’s “serious” concern about the pact, which he has said “deliberately” “escalates” tension in the region, “provokes an arms race “,” Threatens peace and stability in the area “and” undermines international efforts for nuclear non-proliferation “.
“Recently, many countries in the region have expressed concern about the possible negative consequences of cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia,” he reported at a press conference.
Zhao has emphasized the idea of nuclear proliferation and condemned that the AUKUS contravenes the spirit of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has specified that Washington and London will “probably” export highly enriched uranium with a purity of 90 percent to Australia. or more, which makes it nuclear material.
The spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry has indicated that the mechanisms of the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) cannot verify “whether Australia will use highly enriched uranium in the power reactors of submarines for nuclear weapons.”
Similarly, Zhao has criticized that the cooperation of these nations in the AUKUS demonstrates “once again” that the United States and the United Kingdom “pursue double standards” and “use nuclear cooperation as a tool for geopolitical play”, for which has once again asked to comply with the obligations for nuclear non-proliferation and to “do more” to achieve stability and peace in the region.
China has previously criticized AUKUS, as has France and other actors in the international community, such as the EU. The French government called its ambassadors in Washington and Canberra for consultations last week following the agreement.
Paris has spared no criticism against the tripartite alliance, mainly for being the biggest victim of the pact, as Australia canceled a million-dollar contract to supply submarines. The European Union has criticized that the signing of the agreement was done with its back to the European bloc.
