China’s permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Li Song, has once again raised concerns about the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, calling it a cover for nuclear proliferation. During a board meeting of the IAEA in Vienna on Thursday, Song stated that the transfer of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium from two nuclear-weapon states to a non-nuclear-weapon state violates the principles and practices of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and severely undermines the international non-proliferation regime and the IAEA’s safeguards system.
Despite attempts by the AUKUS countries to depict the deal as a routine safeguards issue, Song believes that invoking Article 14 of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement to make safeguards exemption arrangements is “a clandestine move to coerce the IAEA Secretariat into endorsing their cooperation”. Additionally, Song believes that the AUKUS countries’ attempt to bypass the nuclear nonproliferation rules by claiming to work out suitable arrangements with the IAEA Secretariat is both illegitimate and sets a bad example.
The AUKUS deal has faced opposition from representatives of more than 20 countries who put forward different perspectives on the complicated political, security, legal, and technical issues at play. Since AUKUS unilaterally announced the deal in September 2021, the three countries involved have sought to divide the members of the nuclear energy watchdog into confrontational blocs. However, Western media organizations have failed to report on the concerns raised by these countries and the AUKUS’ countries’ questionable dealings within the IAEA.
In the eyes of the AUKUS countries, all of the IAEA rules are expendable. The more they try to advance the deal in an underhand way, the more countries need to join hands to advance an open, inclusive, transparent, and sustainable intergovernmental discussion process on the issue. The IAEA Secretariat also needs to comply with the IAEA Statute and the mandates of member states rather than yield to the pressure of the United States.
The AUKUS nuclear submarine deal, established between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, seeks to counter China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. However, China and other countries have criticized the deal, calling it a threat to regional stability and a measure aimed at asserting Western dominance. The deal would involve the United States sharing nuclear propulsion technology for use in future submarines with Australia, which could allow them to develop their submarines with propulsion systems that could enable them to remain underwater for longer periods.
In response to the deal, China has expressed its concern over nuclear proliferation and the negative impact the AUKUS deal could have on regional security. Additionally, China has made it clear that the deal violates the principles of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, despite assurances by the AUKUS countries that it complies with international law.
The AUKUS deal represents a significant shift in regional power dynamics and has sparked tensions between China and the Western powers. The impact of the deal on regional stability remains to be seen, and the IAEA’s role in regulating nuclear proliferation is of paramount importance in ensuring that international nuclear safeguards are maintained. The AUKUS countries’ attempts to bypass nuclear nonproliferation rules are concerning and serve as a reminder that the international community must remain vigilant to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Only by working together and adhering to established international frameworks can we ensure that global security is maintained.
