A British parliamentary committee has recommended that Japan and South Korea be invited to join the AUKUS security pact, a move that is likely to anger Beijing. The AUKUS pact, established in 2021, involves the US and UK assisting Australia in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines and collaborating on the development of military technologies such as artificial intelligence, undersea drones, and hypersonic missiles.
The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee published a report on Wednesday suggesting that Japan and South Korea should be brought into the alliance to work on military technologies, although they would not be involved in the submarine project. The report emphasized that the AUKUS pact is not solely focused on Australia acquiring nuclear submarines, but also involves cyber and advanced technology sharing and joint development, which it considers to be equally, if not more, significant.
The report takes a harder line on China than the British government has in recent years. It recommends that China be labeled a “threat” rather than a “competitor” and calls on the government to proactively challenge Beijing’s sovereignty over Taiwan, its role in the semiconductor industry, and its alleged human rights abuses in Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang.
China has consistently denied accusations of human rights violations and has criticized the AUKUS pact as an attempt to create an Asia-Pacific version of NATO. The Chinese government argues that both AUKUS and the Quad partnership between the US, India, Australia, and Japan represent a return to the Cold War mentality.
In addition to expanding AUKUS, the report suggests that the UK should apply to join the Quad at a time determined by the existing members. The Quad is a strategic forum aimed at ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The publication of the report coincided with UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s visit to Beijing for talks with Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi and Vice President Han Zhen. During the discussions, Cleverly raised concerns about alleged human rights abuses and malign cyber activity. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman stated that affairs relating to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Tibet are China’s internal affairs and that other countries have no right to interfere.
The recommendation to include Japan and South Korea in the AUKUS pact reflects a desire for enhanced cooperation between these countries in developing military technologies. However, it is also expected to further escalate tensions with China, which perceives the pact as a containment strategy. The recommendation to label China as a threat and proactively challenge its actions highlights the growing concerns about Beijing’s influence and raises questions about the future trajectory of UK-China relations. As the UK explores opportunities to strengthen its strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, it will need to carefully navigate these complex dynamics to ensure a balanced approach that advances its security interests while managing its economic and diplomatic engagements with China.
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