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Catherine Wong

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on countries around the world to oppose “hegemony and division”, a day after the United States launched a security alliance seen as countering Beijing.
In a virtual address to a regional security summit in Dushanbe on Friday, Xi said international issues could not be solved by bullying from “a position of strength”.
“We oppose acts that undermine the international order, create confrontation, and create division under the banner of so-called rules setting,” Xi told the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.
Without referring to the United States, Xi used the same phase that top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi used to attack the US at a high-level meeting in Alaska in March.


The call came a day after the US, Britain and Australia launched Aukus, a security alliance allowing the parties to share nuclear-powered submarine technology.
Aukus is seen as an effort to boost security deterrence against China in the Asia-Pacific, and China responded by saying it would trigger an arms race.
France also took aim at the alliance, which upended its submarine deal with Australia.
“It’s really a stab in the back. We had established a relationship of trust with Australia, this trust has been betrayed,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Thursday.
“I’m very angry today, and bitter ... This is not something allies do to each other.”
US allies’ move on nuclear submarines for Australia a boost to region’s hard power, analysts say
Wang Qun, China’s envoy to the United Nations in Vienna, called on the international community to oppose the alliance, saying it was a “sheer act of nuclear proliferation”.
Addressing an International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors meeting on Thursday, Wang urged the UN nuclear watchdog to oppose the alliance.
Officials of the three nations have stressed that the agreement will not mean Australia will have nuclear weapons but Wang said the alliance would “apparently give rise to proliferation of nuclear materials and technologies”.
“The US and Britain ... will openly provide assistance to Australia, as a non-nuclear weapon state, in its acquisition and construction of nuclear-powered submarines,” Wang said.
“This contradicts the purpose, objective and core obligation of the [Non-Proliferation Treaty] to the detriment of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.”
Wang also said the IAEA had the responsibility to “openly express its solemn position at the trilateral act by the US, Britain and Australia”.
Nuclear submarines give Australian military an edge and could deter China further
The IAEA monitors use of nuclear energy and works to prevent the technology from being used for military purposes. It plays a key role in compliance, including that of the 1968 treaty.
Only five nuclear weapons states are recognised by the NPT – the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain.
“Such an act of nuclear proliferation will give rise to serious negative implications for the ongoing international efforts to address the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula and the Iranian nuclear issue,” he said.
“In the meantime, China calls on the international community to work together to check such a dangerous act.”
Separately, the IAEA said on Thursday that Australia, Britain and the United States had informed the agency of their new partnership and both sides planned to “engage” over the coming months.
“The three countries have informed the IAEA at an early stage on this development. The IAEA will engage with them on this matter in line with its statutory mandate, and in accordance with their respective safeguards agreements with the agency,” it said.


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US-China relations

China appeals for global unity in wake of US-led Aukus security alliance

The new security alliance will give Australia access to nuclear-powered submarine technology. Photo: AFP

China hits out at ‘highly irresponsible’ Aukus defence pact between US, Britain and Australia and warns of Pacific arms race

The agreement will give Australia access to the technology needed to build nuclear-powered submarines. Picutred is the US Navy’s Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine USS Wyoming. Photo: AP

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, third left, participates in the inaugural Quad leaders meeting with the President of the United States Joe Biden, the Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihide Suga and the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in a virtual meeting in Sydney, Saturday, March 13, 2021. Morrison said his first-ever meeting with President Joe Biden as well as the leaders of India and Japan will become an anchor of stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (Dean Lewins/Pool via AP)

A nuclear-powered Type 094A Jin-class ballistic missile submarine of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is seen during a military display in the South China Sea April 12, 2018. Picture taken April 12, 2018. To match Special Report CHINA-ARMY/NUCLEAR REUTERS/Stringer ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CHINA OUT.

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison, center, appears on stage with video links to Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden at a joint press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. The leaders are announcing a security alliance that will allow for greater sharing of defense capabilities — including helping equip Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. (Mick Tsikas/AAP Image via AP)

EU unveils Indo-Pacific strategy, and admits US’ new ‘Aukus’ alliance came as a surprise

Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, discusses the European Union’s new Indo-Pacific strategy on Thursday in Brussels. Photo: EPA-EFE

epa09470854 Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attends a joint press conference via audio visual link (AVL) with Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson (on screen) and US President Joe Biden (unseen) from The Blue Room at Parliament House in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, 16 September 2021. Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States agreed to the creation of a trilateral security partnership to be known as AUKUS. EPA-EFE/MICK TSIKAS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian speaks during a joint press conference with his Qatari counterpart in Qatar's capital Doha, on September 13, 2021. (Photo by KARIM JAAFAR / AFP)

China’s envoy urges US to improve atmosphere to fulfil phase one trade deal

China has been projected to fall more than 30 per cent short of the US goods it pledged to buy this year. Photo: AFP

China-Australia relations: Scott Morrison offers Xi Jinping ‘open invitation’ to talks after new pact with US, UK

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison is seen at a press conference with the leaders of the US and UK to launch a new alliance to counter China. Photo: DPA

Department of Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty, Chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) General Angus Campbell and Prime Minister Scott Morrison at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, September 16, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) NO ARCHIVING

In this photo provided by U.S. Navy, the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Illinois (SSN 786) returns home to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam from a deployment in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility on Sept. 13, 2021.Australia decided to invest in U.S. nuclear-powered submarines and dump its contract with France to build diesel-electric submarines because of a changed strategic environment, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021. (Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Michael B. Zingaro/U.S. Navy via AP)

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Aukus alliance

China appeals for global unity in wake of US-led Aukus security alliance

Xi Jinping tells SCO summit that international issues can’t be solved by bullying Agreement will trigger an arms race, Chinese envoy to UN in Vienna says

Xi Jinping tells SCO summit that international issues can’t be solved by bullying

Agreement will trigger an arms race, Chinese envoy to UN in Vienna says