AUKUS: China reacts to military partnership between Australia, the US and the UK

Defence Minister Peter Dutton has unleashed on Beijing, after China blasted Australia’s historic nuclear submarine deal with the US.

China’s outrage over Australia’s new nuclear submarine arrangement with the US has stepped up a notch, with a scathing editorial including a thinly-veiled threat to the nation.

The article, published by the Communist Party’s mouthpiece, the Global Times, claims that the new deal leaves Australia exposed.

“Among all of the US allies, the decision Australia made to acquire submarine technology from the US is the clearest indication of Canberra’s support for Washington’s idea of an international system to contain China’s economic rise,” the editorial states.

“As an independent nation to become a pawn of the US, the stakes are just too high for Canberra. Australia could face the most dangerous consequence of being cannon fodder in the event of a military showdown in the region.

“What’s even more ridiculous is that Australia also needs to foot the bill for playing the role of cannon fodder, and trashing its relationship with France, whose leaders must be annoyed to suddenly learn that its $90 billion submarine contract with Australia may be cancelled.”

Earlier today, Defence Minister Peter Dutton hit back at China’s “immature” criticism of the arrangement.

Speaking to Sky News Australia, Mr Dutton dismissed the outrage coming from Beijing.

“I think some of the propaganda we’ve seen from a number of spokespersons or the media outlets who speak on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party, frankly, I think they make the case for us,” he said.

“I think their comments are counter-productive and immature and frankly embarrassing.”

He also defended the move during an appearance on Today on Friday, and downplayed concerns that France was snubbed in the deal.

“In the end, I don’t make any apologies for making a decision that’s in our country’s best interests,” he said.

“We do live in an uncertain time, and the advice to me was very clear that the nuclear sub was a much better platform for us than what the French were offering, and that was the decision we made.

Australian Defence Minister Peter Dutton has blasted “immature” China. Picture: Andrew Harnik/Pool/AFP

“And it gives us the best protection against whatever happens over the coming years.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison also spruiked the partnership on Sunrise this morning, claiming the nation was “taking the necessary actions that we need to keep Australians safe”.

In a scathing rebuke on Thursday evening, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian labelled the US “extremely irresponsible” and rejected Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s claim that Chinese leader Xi Jinping had an “open invitation” to restart political talks between the pair.

Canberra was “solely responsible for the current difficult situation”, he said, suggesting the US could be in breach of existing nuclear deals by sharing technology with Australia.

Speaking through a translator, Mr Lijian said the deal “seriously damages regional peace & stability, intensifies arms race, undermines non-proliferation treaty and that “the international community, including neighbouring countries, have good reason to question Australia’s sincerity”.

The UK & US are using nuclear exports as a “geopolitical gaming tool”, which Mr Lijian described as “extremely irresponsible”.

“China will closely monitor the situation,” he said.

An editorial for China’s Global Times labelled the pact “another hostile signal”.

Chinese FM spokesperson Zhao Lijian @zlj517 said the #AUKUS deal supplying Australia with nuclear subs seriously damages regional peace & stability, intensifies arms race, undermines non-proliferation treaty. https://t.co/QVoU5w76ERpic.twitter.com/HuzAlnpvRM

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) September 16, 2021

The three countries announced their “forever partnership” would focus on the increasingly tense situation in the Indo-Pacific and would involve Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines and more advanced military tech, including long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles.

“The relatively benign environment we have enjoyed in many decades in our region is behind us. We have entered, no doubt a new era, with new challenges for Australia and for our partners and friends and countries right across our region,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said from Canberra today.

“This challenge will require more of us in Australia and all of us who share a common vision about peace and stability and security in our region so all nations can enjoy the fellowship of our region, the trade and the opportunities for our peoples so they can realise what they want for their countries just as we want for our country.

“Today I announce a new partnership, a new agreement that I describe as a forever partnership for a new time between the oldest and most trusted of friends, a forever partnership that will enable Australia to protect our national security interests to keep Australians safe.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Joe Biden and Boris Johnson. Picture: Newswire/Gary Ramage

China lashes ‘cold war mentality’
China’s Washington embassy was asked to comment on the new ‘AUKUS’ pact earlier today, urging the three nations to “shake off their Cold-War mentality and ideological prejudice.”

Chinese embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said countries “should not build exclusionary blocs targeting or harming the interests of third parties. In particular, they should shake off their Cold-War mentality and ideological prejudice.”

Mr Morrison said he was yet to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping about Australia’s new military partnership but said there was “an open invitation” to chat,

Talks between China and Australia have been frozen amid growing tensions and trade sanctions between the two countries.

“There‘s an open invitation for President Xi to discuss other matters. That has always been there,” Mr Morrison said.

“Australia is open to discuss issues important to the Indo-Pacific. I believe and hope we share the same objective of a peaceful Indo-Pacific where the sovereignty and independence of nations is understood and respected and enables their citizens to flourish. That’s what we all want.

“It is not an uncommon thing for countries to take decisions in their own strategic interests and build up their defence capabilities. China makes the same decisions as does other countries within our region. I don’t think that should be seen as necessarily extraordinary.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison China's President Xi Jinping are yet to speak about the deal. Picture: AFP

Mr Morrison announced the AUKUS deal as the nation works to strengthen its military defences to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

Australia’s decision to boost its military arsenal amid already surging spending on defence is likely to further strain its fraught relationship with Beijing.

US President Joe Biden said the work to enable Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines would ensure that they had “the most modern capabilities we need to manoeuvre and defend against rapidly evolving threats.”

The three AUKUS leaders did not mention China in unveiling the partnership, dubbed, but their intent was clear.

“Our world is becoming more complex, especially here in our region, the Indo-Pacific. This affects us all. The future of the Indo-Pacific will impact all our futures,” Mr Morrison said.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said they would work “hand in glove to preserve stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.”

On a visit last week to Southeast Asia, US Vice President Kamala Harris accused Beijing of “actions that … threaten the rules-based international order,” particularly its aggressive claims in the South China Sea, where frequent territorial disputes have erupted between China and its neighbours in recent years.

Technical and naval representatives from the three countries will spend the next 18 months deciding how to carry out Australia’s upgrade, which Mr Johnson said would be “one of the most complex and technically demanding projects in the world, lasting for decades.”

HMAS Collins – a Collins Class submarine- in West Australian waters. Picture: Damian Pawlenko

The new agreement has also disappointed France after Australia axed its $90 billion conventional submarine deal with the European ally, which had been personally backed by President Emmanuel Macron.

France’s foreign ministry said in a statement earlier that the decision to go with US submarines was “contrary to the letter and the spirit of the co-operation that prevailed between France and Australia.”

The submarine contract with France was worth around $50 billion however the cost had fluctuated due to it being years behind schedule and well over budget.

Originally published as AUKUS: China reacts to military partnership between Australia, the US and the UK