China claims nuclear-powered submarine technology between the US, the UK and Australia will gravely undermine regional peace and stability
Beijing/New Delhi/Kabul/Washington: China, Russia and Pakistan have called on the international community to continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, stressing that the US and its allies bear the primary responsibility for Afghanistan’s economic and social reconstruction and should provide much-needed economic, livelihood and humanitarian assistance.
At the invitation of the Afghan Taliban, Special Envoy on Afghan Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yue Xiaoyong, Russian Special Presidential Representative for Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov, Pakistani Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Afghan Affairs Mohammad Sadiq visit to Kabul on September 21 and 22. They met with the acting Prime Minister Mohammad Hasan Akhund, acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Finance Minister Hidayatullah Badri and other senior officials.
The three countries and the Taliban authorities agreed to maintain constructive engagements to promote peace and prosperity in Afghanistan and regional stability and development. During the visit, the special envoys also met with former Afghan President Hamid Karzai and former Chairman of the High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah to discuss peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Briefing media persons on the visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in Beijing today that they held “in-depth and constructive” discussions on the recent developments in Afghanistan, especially on inclusiveness, human rights, economic and humanitarian issues, friendly relations between Afghanistan and other countries, especially neighboring countries, and the unity and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. They expressed support for the fight against terrorism and drug-related crimes. The Taliban side stressed that it attaches great importance to Afghanistan’s relations with China, Russia and Pakistan, and the three countries are playing a constructive and responsible role in consolidating peace and stability in Afghanistan.
During the visit, China said that it follows a policy of non-interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs and has always played a constructive role in the political settlement of the Afghan issue. Afghanistan should reach open and inclusive political arrangements, implement moderate and prudent domestic and foreign policies, make a clean break with all kinds of terrorist organizations and live on friendly terms with neighboring countries.
In the meanwhile, referring to the reported offer by the US and the UK to support the Royal Australian Navy to build a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines, China said today that as a non-nuclear weapon state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and a party to the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone (SPNFZ) Treaty, known as the Treaty of Rarotonga, Australia is now introducing nuclear submarine technology of strategic and military value. “The international community, including Australia’s neighboring countries, has reason to question Australia’s sincerity in honoring its nuclear non-proliferation commitments,” Lijian said referring to the concerns expressed by regional countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and New Zealand.
Incidentally, India, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla today mentioned that the Australians had clarified that they were working on a nuclear propelled submarine that meant propulsion is based on nuclear technology, but it would not have any nuclear weapons and as such will not be in contravention with any of Australia’s or international commitments with regard to the issue of nuclear proliferation. Briefing mediapersons in New Delhi today, Shringla, though stated: “But this as I’m saying is what I’ve seen, and I’m not saying it from any other perspective.”
The submarine issue had made France recall its ambassadors to the US and Australia after the two countries together with the UK announced their cooperation on nuclear-powered submarine technology. China said cooperation on nuclear-powered submarine technology between the US, the UK and Australia will gravely undermine regional peace and stability, aggravate arms race and impair international nuclear non-proliferation efforts. “It runs counter to regional countries’ wishes. The three countries should discard the Cold War zero-sum mentality and narrow geopolitical perspective, follow the trend of the times for peace and development, and stop forming exclusive blocs or cliques,” Zhao said.
On September 21, a US State Department Spokesperson though had informed that the White House has made clear that US President Joe Biden expects to speak with President Emmanuel Macron “relatively soon”. He had further said that the US expected its Secretary of State, and the French Foreign Minister “will have a chance to exchange views at some point over the course of the week”.
– global bihari bureau
