Will Biden chicken out?
On Tuesday, China delivered a cautionary warning to the U.S. and some of its allies that they are treading a dangerous path after the U.S. agreed to provide nuclear-powered submarines to Australia.
In transcript provided by Fox, Chinese spokesperson Wang Wenbin explained, “The latest joint statement issued by the U.S., U.K., and Australia shows that the three countries have gone further down the wrong and dangerous path for their own geopolitical self-interest, completely ignoring the concerns of the international community.”
Under the AUKUS agreement between the three nations, the U.S. has committed to supplying Australia with a minimum of three nuclear-powered submarines, starting from the early 2030s. This strategic move is aimed at directly opposing China’s aspirations in the area.
In preparation for the delivery of the initial submarines from the agreement, the U.S. and Britain may dispatch submarines to Australia by 2027 to train crews.
As Australia aims to construct an entire fleet over the next few decades, the agreement could result in expenses surging to $245 billion by 2055.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and President Biden have referred to the deal as an illustration of their mutual dedication to a liberated and unobstructed Indo-Pacific region.
Australian Prime Minister Albanese supported the idea and said this was going to be “the biggest single investment in Australia’s defense capabilities in all of our history.”
Despite the commendation received from the three allied nations, Beijing reiterated its stance that China perceives this action as a “typical Cold War mentality that will only encourage an arms race.” China further contended that this would “impair the global nuclear non-proliferation system and jeopardize regional tranquility and peace.”
President Biden now has 2 choices: He can either back down from the sale to Australia or he can ignore China and follow through with the sale to Australia. Sale of the nuclear submarines to Australia will only push America closer to the brink of a new world war.