China denigrated a trilateral defense agreement between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, as part of which the former would help the latter acquire nuclear technology, including nuclear-powered submarines. Additionally, the alliance will also see the three nations sharing their know-how on AI, cyber, and quantum technologies, in addition to underwater and long-range missile capabilities, as per a senior Biden administration official.

Western media saw that the deal was aimed at China, despite none of the participants mentioning the Asian giant. However, they did mention regional security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region, making their intentions clear on the matter.

The Chinese embassy in the United States commented on the deal, calling on the three nations to "shake off their cold war mentality and ideological prejudice."

Chinese embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu said, countries "should not build exclusionary blocs targeting or harming the interests of third parties. In particular, they should shake off their Cold-War mentality and ideological prejudice."

Beijing condemns the agreement

Beijing on Thursday condemned the aforementioned alliance, calling it an "extremely irresponsible" threat to regional stability.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian held a regular press briefing, during which he said the agreement "seriously undermines regional peace and stability and intensifies the arms race."

The spokesman saw that the US and the UK exporting highly sensitive nuclear submarine technology to Australia is proof of them using nuclear export as "a tool of geopolitical games." He deems the action 'double standards' and "extremely irresponsible."

The deal gave regional countries a reason to question Australia's sincerity in abiding by its nuclear non-proliferation commitments, he said.

Lijian cautioned the West against adhering to their "outdated Cold War zero-sum thinking" or risk "shooting themselves in the foot."