Beijing-Sana
China stressed that cooperation in the field of nuclear submarines between the United States, Britain and Australia deliberately escalates regional tensions, stimulates an arms race, threatens regional peace and stability and undermines international efforts to prevent nuclear proliferation.
Commenting on the agreement between the US, Australian and British governments to share marine nuclear propulsion information, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a press conference yesterday, "China has expressed its grave concern about the cooperation in the field of nuclear submarines among the countries of the "Ocos" initiative." The three countries also expressed serious concerns about the potential negative consequences of this cooperation.
Noting that the IAEA would be unable to effectively monitor the nuclear power reactors and weapons-grade materials that Washington and London plan to supply to Australia under the current safeguards mechanism, Zhao said... "Ocos' move raises the risk of massive nuclear proliferation and clearly violates The objective and intent of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons seriously affects the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.”
He added... that it is extremely irresponsible for the three countries to formulate the so-called "Agreement on the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information" and to promote cooperation in the field of nuclear submarines in ignoring international rules and opposing other parties.
The Ocos Tripartite Security Agreement will assist the United States, Britain and Australia in developing and deploying nuclear-powered submarines, as well as strengthening the Western military presence of these countries in the Pacific region.