China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has strongly criticized the remarks made by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell regarding the AUKUS submarine project. The spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhu Fenglian, described Campbell’s comments as “very dangerous” during a weekly press conference. Zhu Fenglian asserted that the trilateral security partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia is aimed at provoking military confrontation in the region through exclusive military cooperation.
Campbell’s rare linkage between the AUKUS project and Taiwan has raised concerns in China. He suggested that the new submarine capabilities provided by AUKUS could help enhance peace and stability in the region, particularly in the Taiwan Strait. However, China perceives any attempt to use military cooperation to intervene in the Taiwan issue as interference in its internal affairs, a violation of the one-China principle, and a threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
China’s Opposition to AUKUS Pact
The formation of the AUKUS alliance by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia in 2021 was regarded by China as a strategic move to counter its growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. China has labeled the AUKUS pact as dangerous and warned that it could lead to a regional arms race. The territorial disputes in the South China Sea further complicate the tensions between China and its neighboring countries as both Taiwan and China claim sovereignty over the majority of the South China Sea.
In recent years, China has significantly expanded its naval capabilities and deployed advanced missile systems in the region. The construction of military facilities on reclaimed islands in the South China Sea has also raised concerns among neighboring countries and the United States. The extensive military buildup by China has been met with apprehension in Washington and has prompted calls for increased vigilance and preparedness in the region.
The criticism of the AUKUS submarine project by China underscores the heightened geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. The conflicting territorial claims, military build-up, and strategic alliances contribute to the complex dynamics that define the regional security landscape. As China continues to assert its influence and power in the region, the responses from the United States and its allies reflect a broader competition for dominance and control in the Asia-Pacific region.