US Gives Submarine Technology To Australia: China Calls Peace Breaking, France Equals Biden With Trump

Kapal selam Australia HMAS Rankin (SSG 78). (Wikimedia Commons/U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman James R. Evans)

JAKARTA - China, and France are incensed over the defense partnership announced by the United States, Britain, and Australia, with the latter country set to possess nuclear submarines.

The United States, Britain, and Australia said on Wednesday they would build a security partnership for the Indo-Pacific, helping Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, amid China's rapidly growing influence in the region.

In response, China denounced the agreement of the three countries, calling it a very irresponsible threat to regional stability.

"The agreement severely undermines regional peace and stability, intensifies the arms race", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian, said at a regular press conference, citing CNA Thursday, September 16.

The Western allies did not mention China when unveiling the submarine deal on Wednesday, but their intentions were clear, with each referring to regional security concerns.

Australian submarine HMAS Sheean (SSG 77). (Wikimedia Commons/Petty Officer 3rd Class Diana Quinlan)

The alliance is seen as an effort to keep pace with China's growing economic and military growth in the Asia Pacific region.

"The export of highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology by the United States and Britain to Australia, once again proves that they are using nuclear exports as a geopolitical game and adopting double standards, which is very irresponsible", Zhao criticized.

He added that the deal gave regional countries reason to question Australia's sincerity in complying with its nuclear non-proliferation commitments.

Separately, France accused US President Joe Biden of stabbing him in the back and acting like his predecessor, Donald Trump, after Paris was removed from a lucrative defense deal it had signed with Australia for submarines.

The United States, Britain, and Australia said they would build a security partnership for the Indo-Pacific that would help Australia acquire US nuclear submarines. That scrapped a $40 billion French-designed submarine deal.

"This brutal, unilateral and unexpected decision reminds me of what Trump used to do", France Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told Franceinfo radio.

"I am angry and bitter. This is not done between allies", he replied.

PM Scott Morrison during a teleconference with PM Boris Johnson and President Joe Biden. (Twitter/@ScottMorrisonMP)

In 2016, Australia selected the French shipbuilder Naval Group to build a new fleet of US$40 billion submarines to replace the more than two decades old Collins-class submarines.

Two weeks ago, Australia's Minister of Defense and Foreign Affairs had reaffirmed the deal to France. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron hailed decades of cooperation ahead when he hosted Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in June.

"It was a stab in the back. We created a trusting relationship with Australia and that trust has been broken", said Le Drian.

To note, the relationship between Donald Trump and President Macron deteriorated during the presidency of the Republican president. And, diplomats say there have been concerns in recent months that President Biden has not been candid with his European allies.

President Biden said on Wednesday, France remains the main partner in the Indo-Pacific zone. PM Morrison said in a statement Australia hoped to continue working closely and positively with France.

"France is a major friend and partner to Australia and the Indo-Pacific", he said.