Chinese Representative Exposes US, UK, and Australia Nuclear Submarine Cooperation: Concealing Ears and Stealing Bell Issues | Institutions | UK and Australia
The June Board of Directors of the International Atomic Energy Agency is being held in Vienna, Austria. Under the promotion of China, the institution has deliberated on the issue of US UK Australia nuclear submarine cooperation for the eighth consecutive time in the form of intergovernmental discussions. On the 8th, Li Song, the Permanent Representative of China to the International Atomic Energy Agency, made a special speech, exposing the essence of the cooperation on nuclear submarines among the three countries, emphasizing the complexity and controversy of the issue, and calling on all parties to jointly promote the intergovernmental discussion process within the institutional framework and practice true multilateralism through practical actions. Representatives from more than 20 countries, including Russia, Pakistan, Egypt, South Africa, Indonesia, Brazil, Argentina, and others, spoke enthusiastically during the Council session, echoing China's position and propositions.
Li Song stated that the essence of the cooperation between the United States, Britain, and Australia on nuclear submarines is that as a nuclear weapon country, the United States and Britain engage in nuclear submarine cooperation with non nuclear weapon countries and military ally Australia, involving the transfer of several tons of weapon grade highly enriched uranium. For well-known geopolitical purposes, the United States, Britain, and Australia have boldly carried out the above-mentioned strategic military cooperation, unprecedented in crossing the threshold of the principles and practices of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. This seriously impacts the international nuclear non-proliferation system and poses a serious challenge to institutional safeguards and supervision mechanisms.
Li Song pointed out that the cooperation between the United States, Britain, and Australia on nuclear submarines is a product of Cold War thinking and camp confrontation. Politicizing and polarizing this issue in institutions, forcing member states to take sides, is also a manifestation of Cold War thinking and camp confrontation. The attempt by the United States, Britain, and Australia to package the cooperation on nuclear submarines among the three countries as a routine safeguard issue between a non nuclear weapon state and the Secretariat of the Agency, and to request an exemption arrangement citing Article 14 of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, is tantamount to deceiving the truth. In fact, it is an attempt to discredit and coerce the Secretariat to endorse this cooperation.
Li Song said that the United States, Britain, and Australia claim to establish relevant arrangements with the institutional secretariat, thereby setting a precedent for countries seeking "naval power reactors" in the future. Who granted the Three Kingdoms such rights? Do other countries have the opportunity to express their opinions? Li Song questioned the Three Kingdoms. In the past, when you were setting rules for others, you emphasized the "intergovernmental process led by member states". Now, if you want to set rules for yourself and then impose such rules on other member states, you are very unwilling to obstruct the intergovernmental process that should be widely participated in by all parties. How unreasonable!
Li Song emphasized that the cooperation between the United States, Britain, and Australia on nuclear submarines involves complex political, safety, legal, and technological issues, and there is huge controversy among member states. During this council session, more member countries have put forward important views and opinions from different perspectives. The urgent task is for all countries to work together to steadily promote an open, inclusive, transparent, and sustainable intergovernmental discussion process. We urge the United States, Britain, and Australia to respond to the concerns of the international community with practical actions, faithfully fulfill their nuclear non-proliferation obligations, and maintain open and transparent communication with other parties on the basis of equality and mutual respect. China hopes that the Director General of the institution fully respects and objectively reflects the different views and concerns of all parties, and requests the Secretariat to comply with the institution's Statute and the authorization of member states, maintain the institution's anti proliferation function and authority, and assist in advancing the intergovernmental discussion process.
After the meeting, Li Song was interviewed by the media here. He said that from this meeting, it can be seen that China's diplomatic efforts have deepened the understanding of member countries of the agency on the issue of cooperation between the United States, Britain, and Australia on nuclear submarines, and promoted the intergovernmental discussion process around this issue in the agency to deepen and solidify. China will continue to actively advocate the practice of true multilateralism, firmly uphold the authority and effectiveness of the international nuclear non-proliferation mechanism, firmly uphold the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, and firmly oppose Cold War thinking, camp confrontation, and double standards.
