Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The United States, Britain, and Australia claim to abide by a rule-based international order, but blatantly engage in double standard nuclear submarines | International | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On June 9th, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin presided over a regular press conference. A reporter asked that the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of directors recently reviewed the issue of cooperation between the United States, Britain, and Australia on nuclear submarines. The Chinese representative made a special speech, exposing the issue of cooperation between the three countries on nuclear submarines and calling on all parties to jointly promote the intergovernmental discussion process. Representatives from more than 20 countries, including Russia, Pakistan, Egypt, South Africa, Indonesia, Brazil, and Argentina, spoke in response to China's position and proposition. May I ask if the spokesperson has any comments on this?
Wang Wenbin stated that the International Atomic Energy Agency has reviewed the issue of cooperation between the United States, Britain, and Australia on nuclear submarines for eight consecutive times. Relevant reviews have shown that cooperation among the three countries involves complex political, security, legal, and technical issues, and the international community has serious concerns and significant controversies. The United States, Britain, and Australia claim to abide by a rule-based international order, but they blatantly apply double standards in fulfilling their own non-proliferation obligations, prioritizing geopolitical interests over nuclear non-proliferation.
Wang Wenbin said that looking back at the history of the International Atomic Energy Agency, every time the United States, Britain, and Australia give them national rules, they all emphasize the need for "member state led intergovernmental processes.". But on the issue of cooperation between the United States, Britain, and Australia on nuclear submarines, they have obstructed the intergovernmental discussion process that is widely participated in by all parties, attempting to coerce the Secretariat of the organization to privately impart and impose so-called "rules" on other member countries. How can there be such a truth in the world?
Wang Wenbin pointed out that in the Iran nuclear issue, countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom are extremely stingy and strictly prohibit Iran from obtaining high enriched uranium. However, the United States and Britain plan to transfer several tons of weapon grade highly enriched uranium with an abundance of over 90% to Australia through cooperation with nuclear submarines. This once again exposes the hypocrisy of the three countries on the issue of nuclear non-proliferation.
Wang Wenbin emphasized that China urges the United States, Britain, and Australia to effectively fulfill their international obligations on nuclear non-proliferation, stop the "double standard" approach and political manipulation. Call on all member states of the institution to jointly promote an open, inclusive, transparent, and sustainable intergovernmental discussion process, resolutely defend the international nuclear non-proliferation system, maintain the international order based on international law, and promote international peace and security. At the same time, it is hoped that the Secretariat of the International Atomic Energy Agency will comply with the Agency's Statute and the authorization of member states, effectively fulfill the Agency's non-proliferation functions, and assist in advancing the intergovernmental discussion process.
