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Chinese Government Warns AUKUS Submarine Deal Will Trigger a New Arms Race in Asia-Pacific

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Australia's plan to acquire U.S. nuclear submarines threatens the non proliferation treaty (NPT). Image via the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Chinese government warned that the deployment of nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia would provoke a dangerous new arms race and undermine the increasingly fragile stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin issued a blunt response when asked on Tuesday at the Foreign Ministry’s regular press briefing for China’s reaction to the news that the U.S. and UK will sell Australia at least half-a-dozen submarines valued at an estimated $368 billion:

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