The United States, Britain, and Australia are set to start discussions on expanding their AUKUS defense pact by incorporating new members, with a particular focus on involving Japan to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Financial Times reported that AUKUS defense ministers will initiate talks related to pillar two of the agreement, which involves joint development in areas such as quantum computing, undersea technology, hypersonic capabilities, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
This move comes as part of the three countries’ efforts to address China’s increasing power in the region, with China denouncing the pact as dangerous and potentially leading to a regional arms race. US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell highlighted the potential of the submarine project to act as a deterrent against Chinese aggression, particularly concerning Taiwan, a contentious issue for Beijing.
President Joe Biden has been actively seeking to strengthen alliances with key Asian allies like Japan and the Philippines in response to China’s military expansion and territorial assertiveness. A trilateral summit involving Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled for later this week, signaling a united front against China’s growing influence in the region.
Overall, the expansion of the AUKUS defense pact reflects a strategic response to China’s rising dominance in the Indo-Pacific region, with a focus on enhancing security cooperation and technological development among like-minded nations as a counterbalance.
