Australian Aukus subs: are China’s fears of a nuclear arms race in the Indo-Pacific founded?

China has said the United States’ decision to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines increased the risk of nuclear proliferation in the Indo-Pacific, but international experts say the extent of the risk depends on how the submarines are regulated.

The trilateral Aukus pact will allow Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines using US technology, a prospect that Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said “will gravely undermine regional peace and stability, aggravate an arms race and impair international nuclear non-proliferation efforts”.