UK, US, Australia launch Indo-Pacific alliance AUKUS, China issues warning
Australia, the UK and the US announced an enhanced trilateral security partnership called "AUKUS" to deepen diplomatic, security, and defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
"The endeavour we launch today will help sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region," said a joint statement on the formation of a trilateral defence partnership. The new trilateral security partnership was announced in a virtual meeting between US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
"As leaders of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, guided by our enduring ideals and shared commitment to the international rules-based order, we resolve to deepen diplomatic, security, and defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, including by working with partners, to meet the challenges of the twenty-first century," added the statement.
AUKUS will enhance joint capabilities and interoperability. The initial efforts will focus on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and additional undersea capabilities.
For more than 70 years, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have worked together with other important allies and partners to protect shared values and promote security and prosperity.
In reaction to the new alliance, China opposes the creation of "exclusionary blocs" that may harm the interests of third parties, the Chinese Embassy in Washington said on September 15. This comes hours after US President Joe Biden and the leaders of the other two nations launched the Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) defence pact that focuses on the Indo-Pacific.
Experts believe it is a veiled way to confront China's growing assertiveness in the region. "They (countries) should not build exclusionary blocs targeting or harming the interests of third parties," spokesperson Liu Pengyu told Sputnik on Wednesday when asked to respond to the newly-launched defence pact. "In particular, they should shake off their Cold-War mentality and ideological prejudice."
(ANI)