NEW DELHI: Launched in 2021, the Aukus pact, designed to support Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines and foster cooperation in emerging technologies, may soon expand to include new partners like Japan. According to defense chiefs from the US, Australia, and the UK, discussions are underway to potentially involve other nations in projects focused on quantum computing, AI, and hypersonics.This could significantly reshape regional security dynamics and complicate China’s strategic calculations, a report in South China Morning Post said.
While Beijing has voiced concerns about the expansion, viewing it as an attempt by Japan to align more closely with Western powers, analysts suggest that broader participation in Aukus could help deter China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. The inclusion of additional partners such as South Korea, Canada, and New Zealand is also under consideration, which could enhance the pact’s capabilities in defense technology and intelligence sharing, the SCMP report said.
The Aukus expansion aims to integrate more countries into a network that could counterbalance China’s influence and actions in the region, particularly in contentious areas like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
What is Aukus?
The Aukus pact, a trilateral security partnership between Australia, United Kingdom and UK, has significantly shaped the security architecture of the Indo-Pacific region. This strategic alliance, which some strategic experts have likened to Asian Nato, initially aimed to enhance Australia’s naval capabilities through the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines and to foster collaboration among the US, the UK, and Australia in high-tech fields such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and hypersonics. Recent developments suggest an impending expansion that could further complicate China’s ambitions in the region.
Recent statements from the defense chiefs of the Aukus nations have hinted at an expansion of the pact to include cooperation with additional countries, notably Japan, in what is termed as Pillar II of the alliance. This phase focuses on cutting-edge technological cooperation, signaling a broader scope than initially perceived. The involvement of Japan, a technologically advanced nation with existing hypersonic and cybersecurity programs, would mark a significant strategic shift, enhancing the collective defense capabilities of the Aukus countries.
China’s concerns
China has reacted to these developments with apprehension. Beijing has criticized Japan’s potential participation, urging Japan to reflect on its historical military actions and accusing it of contributing to regional militarization. This reaction underscores the tense dynamics and the stakes involved, as Aukus appears to be solidifying a coalition of like-minded nations that could challenge China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
The expansion of Aukus could potentially include South Korea, Canada, and New Zealand, bringing a diverse set of capabilities and strengths to the pact. This would not only enhance the technological and military interoperability among these nations but also serve as a counterbalance to China’s military posture, especially in contentious zones like the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
Experts suggest that this expansion could transform Aukus from a focused military collaboration into a broader strategic alliance, shaping security outcomes across the Indo-Pacific.
While Beijing has voiced concerns about the expansion, viewing it as an attempt by Japan to align more closely with Western powers, analysts suggest that broader participation in Aukus could help deter China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. The inclusion of additional partners such as South Korea, Canada, and New Zealand is also under consideration, which could enhance the pact’s capabilities in defense technology and intelligence sharing, the SCMP report said.
The Aukus expansion aims to integrate more countries into a network that could counterbalance China’s influence and actions in the region, particularly in contentious areas like the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.
What is Aukus?
The Aukus pact, a trilateral security partnership between Australia, United Kingdom and UK, has significantly shaped the security architecture of the Indo-Pacific region. This strategic alliance, which some strategic experts have likened to Asian Nato, initially aimed to enhance Australia’s naval capabilities through the acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines and to foster collaboration among the US, the UK, and Australia in high-tech fields such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and hypersonics. Recent developments suggest an impending expansion that could further complicate China’s ambitions in the region.
Recent statements from the defense chiefs of the Aukus nations have hinted at an expansion of the pact to include cooperation with additional countries, notably Japan, in what is termed as Pillar II of the alliance. This phase focuses on cutting-edge technological cooperation, signaling a broader scope than initially perceived. The involvement of Japan, a technologically advanced nation with existing hypersonic and cybersecurity programs, would mark a significant strategic shift, enhancing the collective defense capabilities of the Aukus countries.
China’s concerns
China has reacted to these developments with apprehension. Beijing has criticized Japan’s potential participation, urging Japan to reflect on its historical military actions and accusing it of contributing to regional militarization. This reaction underscores the tense dynamics and the stakes involved, as Aukus appears to be solidifying a coalition of like-minded nations that could challenge China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
The expansion of Aukus could potentially include South Korea, Canada, and New Zealand, bringing a diverse set of capabilities and strengths to the pact. This would not only enhance the technological and military interoperability among these nations but also serve as a counterbalance to China’s military posture, especially in contentious zones like the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
Experts suggest that this expansion could transform Aukus from a focused military collaboration into a broader strategic alliance, shaping security outcomes across the Indo-Pacific.