On September 16, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian presided over a regular press conference. A reporter asked the spokesperson on issues related to the US, UK, and Australia leaders’ announcement on the 15th that the three countries have established a US-UK-Australia trilateral security partnership called “AUKUS” and will support Australia’s development of nuclear-powered submarines.
Zhao Lijian stated that the cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia on nuclear submarines has seriously undermined regional peace and stability, intensified the arms race, and undermined international nuclear non-proliferation efforts. The export of highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology by the United States and Britain to Australia once again proves that they use nuclear exports as a tool of geopolitical games and adopt “double standards”, which is extremely irresponsible.
Zhao Lijian pointed out that Australia, as a non-nuclear-weapon signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and a signatory to the South Pacific Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, has introduced nuclear submarine technology with strategic military value. The international community, including neighboring countries, has reason to question Australia’s adherence to The sincerity of nuclear non-proliferation commitments. China will pay close attention to relevant developments.
Zhao Lijian emphasized that China has always believed that any regional mechanism should conform to the trend of the times of peace and development, and help to enhance mutual trust and cooperation between countries in the region, and should not target or harm the interests of third parties. The closed and exclusive “small groups” and “small circles” go against the trend of the times and run counter to the wishes of the regional countries. They are unpopular and have no way out. We urge the countries concerned to abandon the outdated Cold War zero-sum thinking and narrow geopolitical concepts, respect the hearts of the people in the region, and do more things that are conducive to regional peace and stability. Otherwise, they will only shoot themselves in the foot. (Headquarters CCTV reporter Huang Huixin Kong Luyuan)
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