Beijing. October 13. INTERFAX - The creation of the AUKUS trilateral alliance aims to inflate the Cold War, at the same time also violates the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and creates the threat of a nuclear catastrophe in the region, said Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Yucheng.
"First of all, AUKUS poses a danger of nuclear proliferation, seriously violates the spirit of the NPT, damages the Treaty on a Nuclear-Free Zone in the South Pacific," he said in an interview with Chinese TV channel CGTN.
He recalled that a few days ago, an American nuclear submarine collided with an unidentified object in the South China Sea.
"It became a warning. Although no one has heard of a nuclear leak as a result of a collision, it is serious. Nuclear submarines often enter the South China Sea. There are great hidden dangers of nuclear proliferation and nuclear security, which can lead to a nuclear catastrophe," the diplomat said.
In addition, according to him, AUKUS "is trying to establish maritime hegemony, intensify a regional arms race, incite military adventures and undermine regional peace and stability."
"China strongly opposes this. The countries of the region and the international community also have tens of millions of reasons to jointly oppose this," Le Yucheng said.
Earlier it was reported that the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia have created a military alliance AUKUS. According to the leaders of the three countries, it is designed to protect their interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
The creation of nuclear submarines for the Australian Navy will be the first initiative under the new alliance, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
Earlier it was reported that the American nuclear submarine USS Connecticut collided with an unknown underwater object on October 2 during a mission in the South China Sea.
