Historic security pact between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The agreement will see the United States and the United Kingdom provide Australia with the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time. It is widely seen as an effort to counter China’s influence in the disputed South China Sea. The region has been a flashpoint for years, and tensions remain high. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the alliance risks “seriously damaging regional peace… and intensifying the arms race.” The agreement also sparked resentment from France, a party with which Australia had previously had an agreement. The Australia-UK-US agreement became known as Aukus.
