Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
The trilateral defense agreement established between Australia, United States of America, and English (AUKUS) was officially signed and started running on Monday (22/11).
With this inauguration, Australia officially started a nuclear-powered submarine development program with US and UK assistance.
Australia’s Defense Minister, Peter Dutton, said today’s inauguration also marked the exchange of sensitive information “on naval nuclear propulsion” between the three countries.
This inauguration will also help Australia complete 18 months of research and training in submarine development.
Since its initial announcement last September, AUKUS has continued to spark debate in the Indo-Pacific region.
China especially opposes the AUKUS agreement which is considered to threaten the stability of the Indo-Pacific region. This partnership also makes the country’s position ASEAN split.
A number of US allies in Southeast Asia support the AUKUS partnership, while others oppose the agreement.
The following countries support AUKUS
1. Filipina
The Philippines supports the AUKUS partnership which Manila considers can counterbalance China’s power in the Indo-Pacific region.
“The proximity factor provides time for an immediate response; thereby increasing the military capacity of ASEAN’s close friends and allies to respond in a timely and commensurate manner to threats to the region or challenges to the critical status quo,” Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said in a statement. official statement last September.
“This will require upgrading Australia’s capabilities, coupled with its key military allies, to achieve that calibration,” he added.
According to Locsin, without building nuclear weapons, efforts to build nuclear-powered nuclear ships do not violate the nuclear weapons anti-proliferation pact.
2. Singapore
Singapore’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Anil Kumar Nayar, also briefly expressed his country’s position on AUKUS.
Nayar said Singapore welcomed Australia’s promise that AUKUS could promote and maintain Asia Pacific stability and security.
He said Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on September 16.
“(The conversation) highlighted the longstanding bilateral and multilateral relations that Singapore has with Australia, the UK and the US,” he told CNNIndonesia.com, on September 23 last.
Nayar then continued, “(PM) hopes that AUKUS will contribute constructively to regional peace and stability and complement the regional architecture.”
At the end of October, PM Le also reiterated that AUKUS supports ASEAN centrality, economic cooperation, and the protection of Asia Pacific security, including the enforcement of international laws such as the 1982 UNCLOS Law of the Sea Convention.
“We welcome Australia’s assurances that AUKUS’ partnership with the US and UK will be consistent with these criteria,” Lee was quoted as saying. Channel NewsAsia.
3. Vietnam
Quotes Hanoi Times, Vietnamese spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized that Vietnam is always monitoring geopolitical developments in the region.
“All countries are striving for the same goal of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and around the world,” Hang said when asked about Vietnam’s stance on AUKUS.
“Nuclear energy must be developed and used for peace and support socio-economic development, ensuring human and environmental safety,” Hang added when asked about Australia’s construction of nuclear-powered submarines.
Indonesia and Malaysia against AUKUS can be read on the next page >>>
Indonesia and Malaysia oppose AUKUS
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