China slams US-UK-Aussie pact to develop hypersonic weapons
China has censured newly-announced joint efforts by the US, Britain, and Australia to develop hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare capabilities.
"Anyone who do not want to see the Ukrainian crisis should refrain from doing things which may lead the other parts of the world into a crisis like this," said China's Permanent UN Representative Zhang Jun during a Tuesday press briefing.
"As the Chinese saying goes: If you do not like it, do not impose it against the others," Zhang added as he warned against the joint weapons project, which was justified as an effort to counter Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.
His remarks followed an announcement by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office unveiling the trilateral agreement to cooperate on a nuclear-capable weapons system after a virtual discussion on the project between Johnson, US President Joe Biden, and Australian Premier Scott Morrison.
The new AUKUS alliance — launched last September — led Australia to cancel a contract for a conventional French submarine in favor of a nuclear submarine program supported by the US and the UK, damaging its ties with France.
In the statement, the three heads of state said they were pleased with the progress of the program for conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines for Australia, and that the allies would cooperate in other areas as well.
"We also committed today to commence [sic] new trilateral cooperation on hypersonics and counter-hypersonics, and electronic warfare capabilities, as well as to expand information sharing and to deepen cooperation on defense innovation," the statement read.
"These initiatives will help to add to our existing efforts to deepen cooperation on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and additional undersea capabilities," it added. "As our work progresses on these, and other critical defense and security capabilities, we will seek opportunities to engage allies and close partners."
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