Xi Jinping leads Chinese attack on AUKUS; Beijing sledges Peter Dutton

Xi has ramped up efforts to sow regional discord about the three allies, while Peter Dutton also copped a blast from Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has criticised the AUKUS pact during a major speech to ASEAN.

China’s President Xi Jinping has led a sweeping attack on the Australian government’s plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines from the United States and United Kingdom.

In a significant escalation of China’s efforts to stoke discord about the three allies in the region, Mr Xi made opposition to Australia’s new security pact with the US and UK — dubbed AUKUS — one of the centrepieces of a major speech he gave to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“We need to pursue dialogue instead of confrontation, build partnerships instead of alliances, and make concerted efforts to address the various negative factors that might threaten or undermine peace,” China’s strongman leader said in a speech delivered over videolink late on Monday.

Mr Xi — who dominates China’s political system and is overseeing a huge military build up — said making “a peaceful home together” was one of his five proposals for South East Asia.

He said China would never “bully smaller countries”, before swiping Australia’s new nuclear submarine agreement.

“China supports ASEAN’s efforts to build a nuclear weapon-free zone, and is prepared to sign the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone as early as possible,” he said.

China is one of nine countries in the world that has nuclear weapons and, following Mr Xi’s orders, is rapidly growing its stockpile.

The AUKUS agreement is for nuclear-powered submarines, not nuclear-armed submarines. Beijing has for months suggested Australia might use it to acquire nuclear weapons.

Ja Ian Chong, an expert on Chinese foreign policy at the National University of Singapore, told The Australian that Mr Xi’s speech raised questions about China’s own nuclear capabilities in the region.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy has a large base at Hainan, a Chinese island at the top of the South China Sea, just off the coast of Vietnam, ASEAN’s third most populous state.

“Is China going to remove nuclear submarines from Hainan? Or is there going to be a removal of nuclear missiles from there? Will there be monitoring associated with this?” Mr Chong asked.

Mr Xi’s propaganda machine and foreign ministry joined their leader in the AUKUS pile on.

Li Haidong, a professor at the Institute of International Relations of the China Foreign Affairs University, told the party-state controlled Global Times that AUKUS was the target of Mr Xi’s speech.

“[S]tressing support for the nuclear weapons-free zone targets the irresponsible behaviour of nuclear proliferation made by the US-led AUKUS alliance,” Mr Li told the tub-thumping party tabloid.

The China Daily, a more restrained party mouthpiece, cited criticism of the submarine deal by former Prime Minister Paul Keating in their editorial titled: “Canberra being yes-man of troublemaking US”.

“Australia should try to become an upholder of peace in the region, rather than a yes-man at troublemaking Uncle Sam’s beck and call,” the China Daily said.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton. Picture: AFP

That editorial was accompanied by a cartoon of a kangaroo with a nuclear submarine in its pouch, a displaced crying joey, and Uncle Sam and another man in a black top-hat, each counting separate wads of cash.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also echoed his leader’s attack at a press conference in Beijing.

Mr Zhao said the submarine arrangement “deliberately escalates regional tensions, stimulates arms race, threatens regional peace and stability, and undermines international nuclear non-proliferation efforts”.

In an answer to seperate question from the Global Times, Mr Zhao launched a lengthy personal attack on Australia’s defence minister Peter Dutton.

The pugnacious Xi administration spokesman said Mr Dutton was “obsessed with the Cold War mentality and ideological prejudices”.

“Driven by selfish political gains, he has repeatedly made provocations, sensational and astonishing statements on China-related issues,” Mr Zhao said.

“He wouldn’t scruple to hijack Australia onto the chariot in confrontation with China. His real intention has been exposed to all.”