WATCH LIVE: Biden delivers remarks after meeting leaders of UK and Australia
PBS NewsHourMAY 2023
While the AUKUS allies pretend that their military buildup is about peace and stability, in reality, this deal sets off a destabilizing and unnecessary arms race that will further provoke China. This unjustifiable move reflects a cold war and colonial mindset in which the Anglophone powers believe they have a natural right to dominate the region. By investing hundreds of billions, Australia is not only making itself an agent of US hegemonic interests but also risks gambling away its own political and economic future in an increasingly multipolar arena.
The predictable Chinese criticism that the defense deal would provoke a new arms race and potentially undermine the non-proliferation regime is completely unfounded. Australia will not acquire nuclear weapons in the future and remains committed to peaceful coexistence with its neighbors. Meanwhile, it is China that is entirely non-transparent about its military build-up and refuses to accept a US offer for de-escalation. Given Beijing's increasingly hostile posture, it is now up to AUKUS to defend the freedom of the Indo-Pacific region.