BEIJING, Mar. 30 -- "China firmly opposes the establishment of the so-called Trilateral Security Partnership among the US, the UK and Australia,"said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a regular press conference on Thursday.
When asked to comment on the AUKUS countries' recent moves in nuclear submarine cooperation, Tan said that the small circle, dominated by Cold War mentality, is of no benefit but great harm.
The nuclear submarine cooperation among the three countries brings the first transfer of nuclear-submarine power reactors and weapon-grade highly-enriched uranium from nuclear-weapon states to a non-nuclear-weapon state in history, the spokesperson stressed.
And he further pointed out that such cooperation creates nuclear proliferation risks, which seriously violates the goal and purpose of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weaponsand affects the international nuclear non-proliferation system. In addition, it intensifies regional tensions and may induce an arms race.
In the end, the spokesperson urged the relevant countries to do the right thing to keep pace with the times.
"China urges the relevant countries to recognize the development trend of the times, abandon the selfish ideas that undermine the interests of others, listen to the voices of the international community with an open mind, earnestly fulfill their international responsibilities and obligations, and contribute more to regional peace and stability," he said.
