AUKUS fears to open the "Pandora's Box" of nuclear proliferation

　　Our reporter Lin Zihan

　　"People's Daily Overseas Edition" (October 28, 2021 Edition 06)

　　According to the British "Guardian" website, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, recently stated that the Trilateral Security Partnership (AUKUS) established by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia has set a precedent, and other countries may follow Australia’s example. , Seeking to build nuclear-powered submarines, triggering a serious risk of nuclear proliferation.

　　Japan and South Korea have nuclear voices

　　Since the United States and Britain announced that they would provide Australia with nuclear submarine technology, topics related to nuclear technology have ignited a "chain reaction".

　　According to the website of Japan's "Diplomat" magazine, Japan’s Minister of Administrative Reform, Kono Taro, stated in a televised debate on the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election last month that the development of nuclear submarines is a “very important” capability for Japan and must be studied and used in all aspects. Areas, deployment costs, and operational issues.

　　According to Korean media sources, South Korea’s opposition party "National Forces" congressmen said this month that South Korea should negotiate with the United States to re-deploy tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea and become a "true ally" of the United States.

　　The Nikkei Asian Review website pointed out that the Non-Nuclear Nuclear Weapons Treaty stipulates that non-nuclear countries must accept the supervision and safeguard measures of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

However, the highly enriched uranium used in nuclear submarine fuel is exempt from review by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The AUKUS agreement takes advantage of this loophole in the treaty and poses a serious security risk.

Non-nuclear countries interested in purchasing or developing nuclear submarines may use this precedent to produce and store highly enriched uranium that can be used for nuclear weapons, which will have a serious impact on the nuclear non-proliferation system.

　　Complicates the nuclear issue

　　Xu Xiujun, a researcher at the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in an interview with this reporter that the United States, Britain and Australia have reached cooperation on nuclear submarines, and the negative impacts are concentrated in three areas: First, intensify nuclear competition among major powers.

The United States draws non-nuclear countries into its own nuclear deterrence system, which has brought about a new trend in the nuclear arms race among major powers.

Second, it further complicates the existing nuclear issues around the world.

While the Iranian and North Korean nuclear issues have not yet been resolved, the cooperation between the United States, Britain and Australia has added a new problem to the world, namely the Australian nuclear issue.

Third, it provides an excuse for some non-nuclear countries to take the opportunity to realize nuclearization, and at the same time, it has an undesirable demonstration effect on nuclear R&D and utilization, and aggravates the chain reaction of global nuclear issues.

"From the standpoint of some countries, some non-nuclear countries have already welcomed and supported the nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, Britain and Australia. This position must be guarded against."

　　British Chief of Defense Staff Carter recently stated that AUKUS is not exclusive. Five Eyes countries such as Japan, Canada, and New Zealand and other "like-minded partners" may join.

He also said that the three parties of AUKUS should further strengthen information sharing.

　　"The problems facing the world today are mostly non-traditional security issues, including common human challenges such as the new crown pneumonia epidemic and climate change. However, AUKUS has once again heated up traditional security issues such as nuclear threats that were originally cooling. If AUKUS'expands', traditional security threats Will be further increased." Xu Xiujun said.

　　The international community must stop

　　The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Grossi said that the agency will engage in dialogue with the United States, Britain and Australia to formulate specific plans for the implementation of safeguards on Australian nuclear submarines.

In this regard, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the United States, Britain and Australia should not cooperate on nuclear submarines until all parties reach a consensus, and the IAEA Secretariat should not reach so-called non-proliferation arrangements with the three countries to avoid endorsing proliferation.

　　The actions of the United States, Britain and Australia drew criticism from many countries.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov recently stated that the formation of exclusive "small circles" by the United States and military blocs created under the logic of the Cold War and containment policies have exacerbated tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.

In a statement, Dave Laxono, a member of the First Committee of the Indonesian National Assembly in charge of defense and foreign affairs, said in a statement that the US-UK-Australia nuclear submarine cooperation will have an impact on the security and stability of the ASEAN region.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail said in a statement that the trilateral security partnership will trigger a regional arms race.

Romer Banrai, director of the Philippine Institute of Peace, Violence and Terrorism, said in an interview with the media that Southeast Asian countries have always abide by the relevant principles of nuclear-free zones. If Australia insists on going its own way, it will face doubts from Southeast Asian countries.

　　"The international community has clearly assessed the negative impact of AUKUS, and there are also some insightful critics in the United States, Britain, Australia and other countries. With the opposition from many parties and the intervention of multilateral institutions such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, if AUKUS wants to form an impact The resistance is very high. But at the same time, the international community must beware of another expansion trend of AUKUS, which is to use the current mechanism to march into the conventional military security and economic security fields beyond nuclear security to form a new economy. Security alliance." Xu Xiujun said.