AUKUS expansion to ‘undermine peace’

China is deeply concerned about the possible expansion of the trilateral security alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, saying it would seriously undermine peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday.

Wu Qian, the ministry’s spokesman, made the comments at a news conference in Beijing following reports that Japan has expressed its intention to join AUKUS and that Canada is considering opening negotiations to join the security alliance.

“We are open to normal military cooperation among all countries, but we firmly oppose relevant countries forming exclusive groupings, building bilateral or multilateral military alliances that target China, creating divisions and fueling bloc confrontation,” he said.

The Asia-Pacific region is a grand stage for peace and development, and not an arena for geopolitical competition, Wu said, emphasizing that “China is a cooperative partner for all countries, and a challenge for none.”

Without taking into account the concerns of regional countries and the international community, the US, Britain and Australia have continued to send signals about the expansion of AUKUS, which has seriously undermined peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, it said he, adding that many regional countries are very concerned about this.

Wu noted that Japan’s military and security moves are being closely watched by its Asian neighbors and the international community for historical and practical reasons.

“Japan must learn lessons from history and speak and act sensibly on military and security issues,” he said.

“Other countries should also seriously fulfill their international obligations and avoid doing things that could undermine regional and global peace and stability,” Wu added.

He also refuted recent comments by some senior US officials on the Taiwan issue, saying that all destabilizing activities in the Taiwan Strait stem from US interference and unrest.

He underscored that if the US truly hopes to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, it must immediately intervene in China’s internal affairs, halt all arms sales to Taiwan and end all “official exchanges” and ‘military contacts’. with Taiwan.

Earlier this month, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan asserted in an interview with Japanese public broadcaster NHK that the US would take every possible step to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, adding that all parties involved would take steps must undertake “destabilizing activities”.

In addition, US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell suggested that Australian nuclear submarines acquired under the AUKUS alliance could eventually be used against China in any military conflict over the island of Taiwan, according to Australia-based ABC News .

Wu said the AUKUS alliance is a product of the Cold War mentality upheld by the US, Britain and Australia. “It will only exacerbate tensions, provoke confrontations and disrupt peace. Regional countries, including China, express serious concerns and firmly oppose such actions.”

Any attempt to intervene in the Taiwan issue through military cooperation constitutes interference in China’s internal affairs, violates the One China principle and undermines the basic norms of international relations, threatening peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, the spokesperson said.

“The People’s Liberation Army has a sacred duty to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will never stand idly by or show any mercy to separatist activities and external complicity and support for Taiwan’s independence,” he said.