NEW DELHI: The United States, Britain and Australia will begin talks to expand the trilateral pact Aukus as Washington plans to include Japan in the group as part of its deterrent strategy against China, reported news agency Reuters citing Financial Times.
People in the know of the development have reportedly confirmed that Aukus defence ministers on Monday will announce the expected talks related to “pillar two” of the pact.
Under the pact, the members jointly develop quantum computing, undersea, hypersonic, artificial intelligence and cyber technology.
They are not considering expanding the first pillar, which is designed to deliver nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia, the FT said.
Aukus, formed by the three countries in 2023, is part of their efforts to push back against Beijing’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
China has called the Aukus pact “dangerous and warned it could spur a regional arms race”.
US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell said on Wednesday the Aukus submarine project could help deter any Chinese move against Taiwan, the democratically governed island that Beijing claims as part of China.
US President Joe Biden has been strengthening partnerships with Asian allies like Japan and the Philippines over China’s military expansion and territorial push.
Biden will meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington on Wednesday and hold a trilateral summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday.
Earlier, it was reported that the member nations of the Aukus alliance will use artificial intelligence, drones, and deep space radar to counter China’s aggression in the Pacific.
The leaders also pledged to undertake “a series of integrated trilateral experiments and exercises”, to test and refine the operation of uncrewed maritime systems.
Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese, last year had accused a Chinese naval ship of “dangerous, unsafe and unprofessional” behaviour after Australian naval divers were injured by sonar pulses said to have been emitted by a Chinese warship in the international waters off Japan.
People in the know of the development have reportedly confirmed that Aukus defence ministers on Monday will announce the expected talks related to “pillar two” of the pact.
Under the pact, the members jointly develop quantum computing, undersea, hypersonic, artificial intelligence and cyber technology.
They are not considering expanding the first pillar, which is designed to deliver nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia, the FT said.
Aukus, formed by the three countries in 2023, is part of their efforts to push back against Beijing’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
China has called the Aukus pact “dangerous and warned it could spur a regional arms race”.
US deputy secretary of state Kurt Campbell said on Wednesday the Aukus submarine project could help deter any Chinese move against Taiwan, the democratically governed island that Beijing claims as part of China.
US President Joe Biden has been strengthening partnerships with Asian allies like Japan and the Philippines over China’s military expansion and territorial push.
Biden will meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington on Wednesday and hold a trilateral summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday.
Earlier, it was reported that the member nations of the Aukus alliance will use artificial intelligence, drones, and deep space radar to counter China’s aggression in the Pacific.
The leaders also pledged to undertake “a series of integrated trilateral experiments and exercises”, to test and refine the operation of uncrewed maritime systems.
Australia’s PM Anthony Albanese, last year had accused a Chinese naval ship of “dangerous, unsafe and unprofessional” behaviour after Australian naval divers were injured by sonar pulses said to have been emitted by a Chinese warship in the international waters off Japan.