Beijing Claims UN Nuclear Watchdog’s Report on AUKUS ‘Lopsided’
Beijing has panned the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog for giving a positive assessment of the progress of the AUKUS deal so far.“The Agency, on the basis of technical consultations and exchanges it has conducted with the AUKUS parties to date, is satisfied with the level of their engagement,” according to a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sept. 9, seen by Reuters. “Such technical consultations will continue for the foreseeable future. The Agency recognises that AUKUS is at an early stage and that precisely how it will develop has yet to be decided by the parties involved.” Beijing’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, called the report “lopsided” saying it made no mention of the concern of nuclear proliferation from the international community. Mao called for a “special committee” open to all member states of the IAEA to discuss the “political, legal, and technical issues” around AUKUS before submitting recommendations to the Agency. If a consensus is not reached, the AUKUS nations—the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia—should not proceed further. Progress of AUKUS Steady The AUKUS deal, signed off under the previous Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, along with former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and current U.S. President Joe Biden, will see Australia become one of the few nations in the world to control nuclear-powered submarines. The move will significantly alter the power balance in the Indo-Pacific region given only six countries in the world have access to nuclear-powered submarines—the U.S., UK, China, Russia, India, and France. It is largely viewed as a counterweight to Beijing’s ongoing aggression and militarisation in the region, including the building of bases in the South China Sea, incursions into Taiwanese airspace, and support of illegal fishing fleets. Yet several hurdles need to be overcome before Australia can be armed with the submarines including fulfilling IAEA safeguards designed to prevent proliferation of nuclear weaponry. The AUKUS deal falls in a grey area because IAEA regulations do not cover use of nuclear materials for naval propulsion. Australian authorities have argued that any submarine would essentially be loaded with a sealed box containing the nuclear reactor, thus limiting the risk of proliferation. A view adopted by the IAEA. Follow Daniel Y. Teng is based in Sydney. He focuses on national affairs including federal politics, COVID-19 response, and Australia-China relations. Got a tip? Contact him at [email protected].
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Beijing has panned the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog for giving a positive assessment of the progress of the AUKUS deal so far.
“The Agency, on the basis of technical consultations and exchanges it has conducted with the AUKUS parties to date, is satisfied with the level of their engagement,” according to a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Sept. 9, seen by Reuters.
“Such technical consultations will continue for the foreseeable future. The Agency recognises that AUKUS is at an early stage and that precisely how it will develop has yet to be decided by the parties involved.”
Beijing’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, called the report “lopsided” saying it made no mention of the concern of nuclear proliferation from the international community.
Mao called for a “special committee” open to all member states of the IAEA to discuss the “political, legal, and technical issues” around AUKUS before submitting recommendations to the Agency. If a consensus is not reached, the AUKUS nations—the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia—should not proceed further.
Progress of AUKUS Steady
The AUKUS deal, signed off under the previous Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, along with former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and current U.S. President Joe Biden, will see Australia become one of the few nations in the world to control nuclear-powered submarines.
The move will significantly alter the power balance in the Indo-Pacific region given only six countries in the world have access to nuclear-powered submarines—the U.S., UK, China, Russia, India, and France.
It is largely viewed as a counterweight to Beijing’s ongoing aggression and militarisation in the region, including the building of bases in the South China Sea, incursions into Taiwanese airspace, and support of illegal fishing fleets.
Yet several hurdles need to be overcome before Australia can be armed with the submarines including fulfilling IAEA safeguards designed to prevent proliferation of nuclear weaponry.
The AUKUS deal falls in a grey area because IAEA regulations do not cover use of nuclear materials for naval propulsion.
Australian authorities have argued that any submarine would essentially be loaded with a sealed box containing the nuclear reactor, thus limiting the risk of proliferation. A view adopted by the IAEA.
