Australia swept away China's anger on Friday (September 17th) after announcing the purchase of US nuclear-powered submarines, Canberra pledging to uphold international law in the air and sea spaces claimed by Beijing .

China has a "very important nuclear submarine construction program," Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said in an interview with 2GB radio station on Friday.

"They have the right to make defense decisions in their own interests and, of course, Australia and all other countries too," he replied to criticism from Beijing.

China reacted strongly, qualifying the acquisition of these submarines as "extremely irresponsible" and threatening in particular stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

She also pointed out that she calls into question international nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

These Western allies risk "shooting themselves in the foot," she warned.

>> To see: Contract on French submarines: Trafalgar coup in the Indo-Pacific zone

Then on Friday, the Chinese Embassy in Australia hit the nail on the head.

"We strongly oppose and reject the unfounded accusations and mistaken remarks against China on issues related to the South China Sea, Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan and other issues related to China," he said. a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canberra said in a statement.

The new security pact between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom, announced Wednesday by American President Joe Biden, also provides for close collaboration between Washington and Canberra in the field of cyber defense, and artificial intelligence in particular.

The head of the Australian government hammered in various interviews that his government was responding to the current situation in the Asia-Pacific region, where the territories are increasingly disputed and where rivalry is intensifying.

"Ensuring peace and stability"

Australia is "keenly aware" of the capacity of Chinese nuclear submarines and Beijing's growing military spending, Scott Morrison told Channel Seven television.

"We want to make sure that international waters remain international, just like airspace, and that the rule of law applies the same everywhere," he added.

Canberra wants to ensure that there are no "no-go zones" in areas governed by international law, the Australian Prime Minister said.

"It is essential, whether in terms of trade, submarine cables, airplanes and the space in which they can fly, (...) it is the order of things that we must preserve. This helps ensure peace and stability and that is the goal we seek to achieve. "

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, rich in natural resources and through which billions of dollars of goods pass each year, and rejects the territorial claims of other residents: Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan and the Philippines.

>> To read: The Australian submarine affair torpedoes relations between Paris and Washington

China has been accused of deploying anti-ship missiles and surface-to-air missiles, ignoring a decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) which ruled in 2016 that Beijing has no "historic rights" to this sea strategic.

Trade tensions between Beijing and Canberra have grown steadily since 2018. In recent months, China has imposed severe economic sanctions against many Australian products.

Many believe that it is above all retaliation against the refusal of Chinese investments in sectors deemed strategic and against Canberra's calls for an investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 epidemic.

With AFP and Reuters

The summary of the week

France 24 invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you!

Download the France 24 application

google-play-badge_FR