The issue of nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia has once again attracted the attention of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

【Reporter Connection】

The November Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was recently held in Vienna, Austria. According to China's proposal, the issue of nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia was officially included in the agenda of the 11th meeting of the Agency. At the Board of Governors' Symposium held on June 11, Ambassador Li Song, Permanent Representative of China to the IAEA, delivered a keynote speech, comprehensively expounding China's position and propositions.

Li Song pointed out that the nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia has a serious impact on global and Asia-Pacific security, and poses a severe challenge to the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the comprehensive safeguards system of the institutions. The nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia is the first time that a nuclear-weapon state has carried out nuclear submarine cooperation with a non-nuclear-weapon country as a military ally, and the first time that several tons of weapons-grade nuclear materials have been transferred, crossing the threshold of nuclear proliferation and posing a serious nuclear proliferation risk. Such cooperation is contrary to the object and purpose of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and is a classic double standard. The trilateral nuclear submarine cooperation involves complex political, security, legal and technical issues, and is a new field and practice of the IAEA's safeguards system, setting an important precedent and having an important impact on the improvement and development of the IAEA's safeguards mechanism. Member States must be cautious, think deeply and handle it appropriately.

Li Song stressed that the development and improvement of the comprehensive safeguards supervision system has always been led by the participation of member states and achieved on the basis of consensus. This tradition ensures that the comprehensive safeguards system is up-to-date and up-to-date on the basis of universal recognition and support from member States. It is in the common interest of the majority of Member States to preserve this tradition. In the process of developing and perfecting the comprehensive safeguards mechanism, it is normal for member States to have different opinions and concerns, which should be given full attention and respect, and consensus should be reached through consensus. This is the embodiment of true multilateralism and the "Vienna spirit". The discussion on nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia will be a long-term process, and I believe that the vast number of member states have sufficient wisdom, patience and determination to properly address the challenge of nuclear non-proliferation through intergovernmental discussions. Safeguards arrangements cannot be interpreted and decided upon by the three countries and the Secretariat until a consensus has been reached by member States.

Russia, Egypt, Algeria, Pakistan, Iran, Cuba and other countries have spoken out that the nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia involves the transfer of a large number of weapons-grade nuclear materials, and there is a serious risk of nuclear proliferation. This unprecedented act cannot be carried out in the shadows of the three countries and the Secretariat, but must be properly addressed through an intergovernmental process with the participation of the member States of the Agency. All parties support the continuation of further intergovernmental discussions in the IAEA Council and the General Assembly on the basis of the official topics advocated by China.

After the meeting, Li Song pointed out in an interview with the media that since the beginning of this year, under the active guidance and vigorous promotion of the Chinese side, and with the joint participation, shaping and guidance of the vast number of member states, the IAEA's discussion on the issue of nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, Britain and Australia has entered a new stage and taken on new characteristics. First, the discussion process is normalized. At the IAEA Council and General Assembly since March, the seminars held by the Chinese side, the 3th review of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the side meetings on the US-UK-Australia nuclear submarine issue organized by the China-Russia think tank and the Australian Permanent Mission, the parties fully exchanged views on many technical issues, such as the nature and far-reaching impact of the US-UK-Australia nuclear submarine cooperation, the tradition and historical practice of the development and improvement of the comprehensive safeguards system of the Agency, the application of Article 14, and the role of the IAEA Secretariat. Second, the content of the discussion is diversified. More member states joined the discussion and expressed their stance on the nuclear submarine issue of the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia for the first time, which is very helpful for the agency to continue to advance the relevant discussions in the next stage. Third, we must resolutely oppose politicization. China has repeatedly stressed that the nuclear submarine cooperation between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia is in the common interests of the IAEA member states, and the three countries cannot coerce other member states to take sides and label countries that express different views as politicized. An increasing number of Member States recognized the complexity and importance of the issue and were participating in the discussion process.

Li Song said: We once again urge Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom to respond to the concerns of the international community and engage in dialogue and communication with all parties on the basis of equality and mutual respect. China will continue to advance the process of intergovernmental discussions in a principled and highly responsible manner, and uphold the authority and effectiveness of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and institutional safeguards system.

In September 2021, the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia announced the establishment of a trilateral security partnership and nuclear submarine cooperation. Under this framework, the United States and the United Kingdom will support Australia in equipping it with nuclear-powered submarines, making it one of the few countries to have such submarines. In March this year, the three countries officially announced their nuclear submarine cooperation plan, and Australia proposed to invoke Article 9 of the Agency's comprehensive safeguards agreement to negotiate with the Secretariat on the relevant safeguards arrangements. China has repeatedly stressed that the establishment of a so-called trilateral security partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia to promote nuclear submarines and other cutting-edge military and technical cooperation is a typical Cold War mentality, which will only stimulate the arms race, undermine the international nuclear non-proliferation system and undermine regional peace and stability. Nuclear submarine cooperation concerns the integrity, effectiveness and authority of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and the relevant safeguards issues involve the interests of all IAEA member states and should be discussed and decided by all IAEA member states through a transparent, open and inclusive intergovernmental process. Until all parties reach a consensus, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia should not cooperate on nuclear submarines, and the IAEA Secretariat should not negotiate safeguards arrangements with the three countries without authorization.

(Vienna, 11 Nov -- Fu Zhigang, our correspondent in Vienna)