Beijing fumes over Australia’s nuclear sub pact with US and UK

● Move will severely damage regional peace and stability, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson says

The US, Britain and Australia have announced a new security partnership for the Indo-Pacific in a move hailed by regional allies but denounced by China.

Under the partnership, announced by US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the US and Britain will provide Australia with the technology and capability to deploy nuclear-powered submarines.

The US and its allies are looking for ways to push back against China’s growing power and influence, particularly its military build-up, pressure on Taiwan and deployments in the contested South China Sea.

The three western leaders did not mention China by name in Wednesday’s announcement and senior Biden administration officials, who briefed reporters ahead of time, said the partnership was not aimed at countering Beijing.

However, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said the three were “severely damaging regional peace and stability, intensifying an arms race, and damaging international nuclear non-proliferation efforts”.

Countries should not build partnerships that targeted third countries, he said.

“China will closely watch the situation’s development.”

In a three-way virtual announcement, the leaders emphasised that Australia would not be fielding nuclear weapons but using nuclear propulsion systems for the vessels to guard against threats.

“We all recognise the imperative of ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific over the long term,” Biden said.

“We need to be able to address both the current strategic environment in the region and how it may evolve because the future of each of our nations, and indeed the world, depends on a free and open Indo-Pacific enduring and flourishing in the decades ahead.”

Morrison said the submarines would be built in the city of Adelaide and Australia would meet all its nuclear nonproliferation obligations.

Johnson said the pact, dubbed AUKUS, would reduce the costs of Britain’s next generation of nuclear submarines.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern welcomed the focus on the Indo-Pacific, but said Australia’s nuclearpowered submarines would not be allowed in its territorial waters under a long-standing nuclear-free policy.

A US official briefing before the announcement said Biden had not mentioned the plans “in any specific terms” to Chinese leader Xi Jinping in a call last Thursday, but did “underscore our determination to play a strong role in the IndoPacific”.

US officials said nuclear propulsion would allow the Australian navy to operate more quietly, for longer periods, and provide deterrence across the Indo-Pacific.

The partnership ended Australia’s 2016 deal with French shipbuilder Naval Group to build it a new submarine fleet worth $40bn (R580bn) to replace its more than twodecades-old Collins submarines, a spokesperson for Morrison said.

France accused Biden of stabbing it in the back and acting like his predecessor, Donald Trump.

“This brutal, unilateral and unpredictable decision reminds me a lot of what Mr Trump used to do,” foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told franceinfo radio.

“I am angry and bitter. This isn’t done between allies.”

Naval Group said in a statement that Australia’s decision was a major disappointment.

Biden said the three governments would launch an 18month consultation period “to determine every element of this programme” and to ensure full compliance with non-proliferation commitments.