AGI – Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the Western partners of the AUKUS security pact of causing divisions and increasing the risk of nuclear proliferation in the South Pacific region. Beijing’s head of diplomacy attacked the defense agreement, according to which the United States and Great Britain equip Australia with nuclear-powered but conventionally armed submarines.
During a visit to Papua New Guinea to strengthen ties with the small oceanic country, Wang warned that the agreement between the three countries violates the South Pacific Treaty that bans nuclear weapons in the region. AUKUS also “poses serious nuclear proliferation risks,” he said at a news conference after meeting his Papua New Guinea counterpart, Justin Tkatchenko. In recent years, Beijing has sought to reduce the influence of the United States and Australia in the South Pacific, including Papua New Guinea. The Pacific islands, though sparsely populated, are rich in natural resources and sit at a geostrategic crossroads that could prove vital in the military dispute over Taiwan. Australia is by far Papua New Guinea’s largest partner, but Chinese companies have made significant inroads into the markets of this poor but resource-rich nation. China’s Foreign Minister seized on the recent announcement by AUKUS countries to consider cooperating with Japan in the field of military technology. Under the military agreement, the partners plan to develop advanced warfare capabilities such as artificial intelligence, underwater drones and hypersonic missiles.
“Recent attempts to persuade more countries to join such an initiative that fuels inter-bloc confrontation and causes division are totally inconsistent with the urgent needs of island countries,” the Chinese foreign minister said.
