China criticizes the alliance of Washington, London and Canberra and threatens Australia

Unsurprisingly, China was quick to criticize the US and Great Britain’s supply of technology to Australia that allows Canberra to acquire nuclear submarines as part of the new Aukus (Australia, UK, US) alliance launched by the White House, Wednesday 15 September. On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian ruled ‘Absolutely irresponsible’ This tripartite agreement that “It seriously undermines regional peace and stability and intensifies the arms race.” For him, this agreement raises doubts about it “Australia’s sincerity in fulfilling its non-proliferation obligations”.

At about the same time, daily nationalism Global Times Speak much harsher. “The world must prepare for nuclear submarine fever”, Confirms. Above all, the paper explicitly threatens Australia. While there is no geopolitical conflict between the two countries, he believes, “Australia is positioning itself as China’s opponent”. As a result, in the event of a conflict, Australians could be targeted by China Send a warning to others. And therefore, “Australian forces may be the first band of Western soldiers to waste their lives in the South China Sea.”

severely deteriorating relationships

This combative tone comes at a time when relations between Australia and China have deteriorated sharply. But it is undoubtedly due to Beijing’s concerns. China is particularly concerned about the formalization of the Quartet, that “Asian NATO”, in her own words, that brings together the United States, Australia, Japan and India. For the first time, the leaders of these four countries will meet face to face at the White House on September 24. China has a border dispute with India and claims some of the islands administered by Japan.

In addition, the South China Sea, the bulk of which is claimed by China, is the subject of frequent tensions between Beijing and its neighbors but also with the United States and to a lesser extent France and Great Britain. Finally, Taiwan is also the epicenter of major tensions. The island, which Beijing claims as one of its provinces, is currently carrying out major military exercises, just like Japan. Both feel threatened by China, Taipei and Tokyo have recently deepened their military cooperation.

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