The Chinese envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Li Song, has called for global attention to the “proliferation risks” associated with the AUKUS agreement involving the US, UK, and Australia. In an address to the IAEA board of governors, Li asserted that the AUKUS deal contradicts the objectives of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and poses a threat to the Asia-Pacific region. He urged formal “intergovernmental discussions” among IAEA member states to address the proliferation risks linked to AUKUS, emphasizing the need for wisdom, patience, and determination.
The AUKUS pact, established in 2021, aims to facilitate the transfer of military technology, particularly with the US assisting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines. While officials from the three countries stress that AUKUS is not a formal military alliance and focuses solely on technology-sharing, China has strongly criticized the initiative, expressing concerns about an arms race in Asia and the global spread of nuclear weapons.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin previously denounced AUKUS, attributing it to a “Cold War mentality” that could harm international nuclear nonproliferation efforts and regional stability. Li, in earlier remarks to the UN nuclear watchdog, contended that the IAEA’s current safeguards system lacks effectiveness in monitoring technology-sharing within the AUKUS partners, asserting that the deal undermines the authority of the Agency and its safeguards system.
Tensions between the US and China have heightened in recent years, with President Joe Biden characterizing China as America’s top “competitor” and deploying warships near the country regularly. Despite recent “productive” talks between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Biden later referred to Xi as a “dictator,” prompting a sharp response from Beijing.