Business

China blasts nuclear transfers under AUKUS deal — Analysis

Beijing’s envoy to the United Nations said the three-way AUKUS pact poses nuclear proliferation risks

China has accused the US, UK and Australia of risky transfers of nuclear materials under the AUKUS pact, with Beijing’s UN ambassador calling on the body’s atomic watchdog to give greater scrutiny to the deal.

After a meeting of IAEA Board of Governors, Wang Qun (UN envoy) stated that the Chinese mission requested formal discussions on the matter. “transfer of nuclear materials in the context of AUKUS and its safeguards in all aspects under the NPT [nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty].”

“AUKUS goes beyond the existing international non-proliferation regime and the mandate of the IAEA Secretariat. The issue should not be handled by the three countries alone and must be handled by the IAEA member states,”He said that three countries were included in the list. “have ignored the AUKUS-related discussions at the IAEA Board meetings.”


China tells US to withdraw nukes from Europe

The United States, Britain and Australia signed the three-way ‘AUKUS’ agreement last year, under which the latter two nations vowed to help Canberra obtain nuclear-powered submarines. It was controversial and Australia had to cancel a contract to get subs made in France. This triggered diplomatic fury from Paris. 

Responding to similar charges from China in August, the US, UK and Australia insisted they are committed to carrying out the transfer of nuclear materials – namely highly enriched uranium to be used in the subs’ reactors – “in a way that meets the highest possible non-proliferation standards.”

Submarines use power units “are designed so that removal of any nuclear material would be extremely difficult and would render the power unit, and the submarine, inoperable,”The three nations stated in a document to UN that they were ensuring safe transfers.

Wang nevertheless urged IAEA not to go political. “neutral”And to “continue to provide the platform for addressing the proliferation risks of AUKUS,”The accusation of the three countries continues. “hindering the IAEA’s performance of its duties and undermining the international order, multilateralism and world peace.”

This story can be shared on social media

[ad_2]

Tags

Related Articles

Back to top button