By Chen Hong

On December 1, local time, the AUKUS security alliance held a trilateral meeting in California, the US, after which  the three defense ministers on the joint press conference announced a package of cooperation matters based on the Pillar II of AUKUS with the strategic objective aimed directly at China.

The so-called "Pillar I" of AUKUS aims to establish a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for Australia, while its "Pillar II" focuses on advanced cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum technology, cyber information, and space science and technology, serving Washington's strategy of containing China.

The three defense ministers agreed to establish a deep space advanced radar capability program  among Australia, the UK, and the US to detect objects over 36,000 kilometers away from Earth and identify emerging threats in space. Additionally, the three countries will deploy common advanced artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to detect and track China's submarines underwater in the Pacific Ocean based on the data detected by sonobuoys at their maritime radar stations and P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft.

In this joint statement of the three defense ministers, the contents of the Pillar II in the AUKUS framework are quite clear. Specifically, it emphasizes the need to implement cooperation and coordination among the three countries in maritime and space domains, promote real-time surveillance and dynamic monitoring of China's military naval and aerial activities, and support the US military intentions in the Asia-Pacific region.

In September 2021, US President Joe Biden, then UK Prime Minister Johnson, and then Australian Prime Minister Morrison jointly announced the establishment of the AUKUS Alliance. They claimed to construct or purchase eight nuclear-powered submarines for Australia, including purchasing three to five Virginia-class submarines from the US and constructing AUKUS-class submarines in cooperation with the UK.

More than two years have passed, and the seemingly aggressive nuclear submarine program remains nothing but an empty promise. The substantial funding to be allocated by Australia for the purchase and construction of submarines has not yet to materialize, specific docking sites for submarine construction have not been identified, and even the engineering and technical personnel involved in their construction and testing have not been organized and trained. Furthermore, the US Congress has not passed any proposal to support this program, and even some lawmakers have publicly expressed their opposition to using American funds and technology to support Australia's submarine programs.

In the foreseeable future, the Pillar I of AUKUS will simply remain a castle in the air. However, it is apparent that the US-led Western anti-China forces do not wish to witness its failure, so they have hastily announced plans for launching the so-called "Pillar II" in order to extend their anti-China strategy to new domains. Not only will the Australia continue to function as strategic intelligence station and military base for the US, but they will also expand and enhance its military strike capabilities.

Although the military alliance structure AUKUS, with China as its strategic target, includes the US, the UK and Australia, the US is far away, and the UK is even further out of reach. It is Australia that is truly at the forefront of tactical confrontation. If Australia further tightly and deeply binds itself to the anti-China alliance led by the US, it will essentially push itself to the forefront of confrontation or even direct opposition with China. Such an unnecessary choice will bring significant security risks to itself.

Since the Australian Labor Party came into power in May 2022, China-Australia relations have stopped declining and have improved through the joint efforts of both countries. The enhancement and progress of China-Australia relations undoubtedly will thwart the sinister attempts of anti-China forces to undermine and suppress China's development through Australia. In the unpredictable geopolitical landscape, Australian politicians need to maintain political wisdom and strategic clarity to make prudent decisions and choices of safeguarding their long-term interests and maintaining peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

(The author is Director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University)

Editor's note: Originally published on huanqiu.com, this article is translated from Chinese into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information and opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.