China is determined to thwart AUKUS, driven by distrust and fear of a US nuclear build-up
ABCChina has made no secret of its plans to diplomatically thwart Australia's AUKUS submarine plan, which it sees as part of a broader US effort to contain China's future military dominance of Asia. Beijing's mission to the United Nations on Tuesday slammed the announcement that Australia will obtain several American nuclear-powered submarines as part of the deal, saying it "fuels arms races and hurts peace and stability". China's efforts to cast Australia as an irresponsible nation flouting global norms might find receptive ears in a region increasingly worried about a broader military build-up. "Our observations show whenever Chinese aircraft — especially strategic bombers along with fighters — pass through Taiwan's south-west Air Defence Identification Zone and, especially, through the Bashi channel between Taiwan and the Philippines, it also means, simultaneously, there are Chinese submarine activities too," Sun Yat-sen university military expert Kuo Yujen said.