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AUKUS Threat Submarine

A man plays with a toy submarine labeled 'AUKUS', overshadowed by a large black submarine with a Chinese flag. A voice from the large submarine says, 'You undermine peace in the region.'

The AUKUS pact, entered into by Australia in 2021, is a significant tri-lateral defence treaty between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian labelled it an ‘obsolete Cold War … mentality’. In March 2023 the pact agreed to help Australia acquire at least eight nuclear-propelled submarines. Badiucao observes that a handful of nuclear submarines does not match the military capability of China. He also calls out Chinese government hypocrisy.