China has responded with predictable fury to the official announcement this week of the so-called AUKUS pact, under which the United States and Britain will provide high-tech nuclear submarines to Australia, which Beijing sees as a direct threat.

The deal, announced recently, marks a major escalation in the geopolitical tensions in the region and represents a significant shift in Australia’s defense posture. Under the agreement, the US and UK will help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines, which are faster, quieter, and have longer ranges than conventional diesel-electric submarines.

The AUKUS pact is designed to counter China’s growing military assertiveness in the region and comes against a backdrop of increasing concern about Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and its treatment of Hong Kong and Taiwan.

China has condemned the pact as a “cold war mentality” and accused the US, UK, and Australia of undermining regional stability and violating the principles of non-proliferation. Beijing’s response was not unexpected, given the increasingly fractious relationship between China and the West and the heightened tensions in the region.

The AUKUS pact has been hailed by its supporters as a major step forward for regional security and a demonstration of the strong bond between the US, UK, and Australia. The agreement is also seen as a response to the growing threat posed by China’s rapidly expanding navy, which has been modernizing at an unprecedented pace over the past decade.

However, not everyone is convinced that the AUKUS pact is a positive development. Some experts have warned that the deal could undermine international efforts to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as it represents a significant escalation in the transfer of sensitive nuclear technology to non-nuclear states.

Others have also expressed concerns about the potential for a nuclear arms race in the region, with other countries, such as Japan and South Korea, potentially seeking to acquire similar capabilities in response to China’s growing military assertiveness.

There are also concerns about the impact of the AUKUS pact on Australia’s relations with China, which is Australia’s largest trading partner. Beijing has already responded by cancelling a high-level economic dialogue with Australia, and there are concerns that the pact could further damage the already strained relationship between the two countries.

The AUKUS pact is a significant development in the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, and its impact will be closely watched by countries around the world. While some see it as a necessary response to China’s growing military assertiveness, others are concerned about the potential risks and unintended consequences of such a major shift in Australia’s defense posture.