Since the announcement of the deal, there have been concerns all over the world about the AUKUS deal. The AUKUS deal was announced to expand the military capabilities of Australia.
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China and Russia have been the first two nuclear states to react. China has raised doubts that Russia will accelerate the nuclear war and its dangers. The deal put the Indo – Pacific in direct danger.
Therefore, the Australian government started the process of creating the provisions and safeguard measures to ensure trust in the deal earlier this week, before the announcement of the Nuclear Submarine deal.
The Foreign Minister of Australia, Penny Wong wrote a letter to the senior official of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the safeguard arrangements. Wong ensured that this is to ensure that there is an absence of no nuclear activities in Australia.
The Australian government has also stated about the physical inspection of the nuclear activities in the country. They have invited several experts on nuclear deals, and senior officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency to seek their opinion on the safeguard. They are keen to make sure there is no misuse of nuclear transfer technology.
Raising concerns over the AUKUS
Australia is a non-nuclear state. therefore, this is a big move against the Non-Proliferation Treaty. There are doubts among the experts this will influence other non-nuclear states to follow the same path for the transfer of nuclear technology.
This is the first time that the NPT is used to transfer nuclear technology to a Non-Nuclear state from the Nuclear State. The first-time nuclear transfer was done between USA and Britain. They both are Nuclear States. Therefore, no exceptions were made in the NPT treaty.
China’s campaign against the AUKUS
The AUKUS leaders have reacted to the increasing Chinese assertiveness in the Indo – Pacific and the Invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Therefore, there is a need to accelerate the measure to enhance security in the region. they also ensure that this will bring stability to the region.
The Australian authorities are alarmed by the Chinese campaign against the AUKUS deal. The Chinese government reacted to threats in the deal.
The Chinese government said that IOA should not hold any talks with officials or leaders of the AUKUS countries. The Chinese Foreign Ministry made a statement that these exemption arrangements of the safeguarded “coerce” and undermine the status of the authority.
They have said the Chinese Authority also claimed that this will accelerate the arms race in the region. the Chinese-owned media run the statements aggressively against Australia. For some time, there have been issues between the Australian and China relationship. It was alleged that the Chinese Government interfered in the National election of Australia.
Experts expressed that the AUKUS deal could lead to a problem in the trade relationship between the two countries. Australia is the biggest trading partner with China have to respond to the claims of Beijing.
Australian Government Responds
Australian government reacted to the doubts that the country will not enrich uranium or the fuel to power the nuclear programme. The Prime minister and Foreign Minister of Australia wrote a letter ensuring that Australia is not seeking nuclear weapons but acquiring the nuclear submarine. We will ensure all the safeguard obligations and commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Read More: AUKUS Unveils Plan for Nuclear Submarines
