The U.S. Under Secretary of State asserts that the AUKUS alliance will not trigger a nuclear arms race in the region.

• The AUKUS defense and security pact between Australia, U.K., and U.S. will not cause a nuclear arms race in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.
• The security framework aims to enhance stability rather than "cause issues," she stated during a media briefing on Tuesday. "There are some inaccuracies regarding the objectives of AUKUS and what we are attempting to achieve."
• Western powers have been accused by China of causing division and increasing the risk of nuclear proliferation in the South Pacific through the AUKUS security pact.

The AUKUS defense and security pact between Australia, U.K., and U.S. will not cause a nuclear arms race in the Indo-Pacific region, according to the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

Ambassador Bonnie Denise Jenkins stated at a media briefing on Tuesday that the security framework aims to enhance stability rather than "cause issues." She emphasized that there are inaccuracies in the information circulating about the objectives of AUKUS and the efforts being made.

In 2021, the AUKUS alliance was established to tackle regional issues related to China's increasing military might and dominance. This alliance included Australia obtaining nuclear-powered attack submarines as part of the defense cooperation.

At that time, China issued a warning about the dangers of an arms race and nuclear proliferation.

"It is crucial for countries to comprehend that the purpose of this is not to initiate an arms race. Nuclear submarines are permitted under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, and Australia has no intention of becoming a nuclear weapons state," she stated.

Jenkins stated that the alliance partners will maintain collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency to uphold the highest operational standards in their endeavors.

China's response

In its latest remarks, China emphasized that the Western powers involved in the AUKUS security pact are causing division and increasing the risk of nuclear proliferation in the South Pacific.

The US aims to bring nuclear submarine development to the region through AUKUS, which goes against the objectives of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone Treaty and increases the risk of nuclear proliferation, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin.

The U.S. was accused by him of bringing "more countries into the grouping under false pretenses," with China expressing opposition to bloc confrontation in the region.

This month, AUKUS defense ministers discussed potential collaboration with Japan in the realm of Pillar 2 of the AUKUS framework, which encompasses topics such as cyber, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and undersea capabilities.

We are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects due to Japan's strengths and its close bilateral defense partnerships with all three countries.

Jenkins stated that no timeline exists for Japan or any other country with which we are collaborating regarding additional partnerships.

"We must proceed with caution and conduct a thorough process. Our discussions with countries will focus on crucial matters and the benefits of partnering with them."