Beijing Again Protests AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Cooperation

JAKARTA - The Chinese government has again protested the agreement of the security pact of Australia, Britain and the United States (AUKUS) to present nuclear-powered submarines in the Pacific region.

"AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine cooperation is detrimental to efforts to maintain regional peace and security. The US, UK, and Australia formed AUKUS to advance cooperation on nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced military technology," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian in Beijing., August 15th.

AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between Australia, Britain and the United States (US) which was founded on September 15, 2021. According to the pact, the US and Britain will assist Australia in developing and deploying Virgina-class nuclear-powered submarines, in addition to deploying the western military in the Pacific region.

Australian Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the latest deal signed in Washington contained Australia would be responsible for the nuclear risk of the material being delivered.

"Their measures exacerbated the arms race, weakened the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, sparked bloc politics and military confrontation, and undermined regional peace and stability," added Lin Jian.

China and countries in the region, according to Lin Jian, have expressed more than once serious concerns and firm opposition to AUKUS' plans.

"AUKUS' nuclear-powered submarine cooperation contradicts the goals and targets of the Nuclear Weapons Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) because the cooperation involves relocating nuclear-powered submarine reactors and large amounts of uranium that have been processed so that it can function as weapons from countries that have nuclear weapons to countries that do not have nuclear weapons," explained Lin Jian.

Lin Jian said this could pose a serious risk of nuclear proliferation.

"The security system of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is currently unable to provide effective security against this, plus there is a major controversy regarding the interpretation and application of relevant security provisions," said Lin Jian.

Many countries, said Lin Jian, have expressed their concerns during the Second Session of the Preparation Committee for the recent Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference (Non-Proliferation Treaty) in Switzerland.

"China calls on the international community to take seriously the impact of AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine cooperation on NPT's authority and effectiveness as well as its negative impact on the IAEA security regime," said Lin Jian.

The international community also needs to continue to propose a process to address the world's concerns over legal and technical issues involved in AUKUS' cooperation through the IAEA, the NPT review process, and other ways.

"Until the international community reaches a consensus on security and other related issues, the US, UK and Australia must not continue cooperation with their nuclear-powered submarines," said Lin Jian.

Lin Jian also said China followed the policy of "not using nuclear weapons first" and a nuclear strategy focused on self-defense.

"China has always maintained its nuclear power at the minimum level required by national security, and has never been involved in an arms race with anyone," said Lin Jian.

Nuclear material for nuclear processing in submarines will be transferred from the US or UK in "complete and welded power units" and Australia will be responsible for the storage and disposal of used nuclear fuels and radioactive waste from nuclear power units transferred under the agreement.

Currently, there are 9 countries in the world that have nuclear weapons, namely the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain, Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea.

Under the NPT deal in effect since 1970 and extended indefinitely in 1995, it said countries that have nuclear weapons are required not to transfer ownership or control to nuclear weapons recipient countries or other nuclear explosive devices, and not in any way help, encourage or persuade countries that do not have nuclear weapons to produce, acquire or control of these weapons or devices.