US, UK, Australia ‘set for talks on expanding Aukus security pact’ to deter China, with Japan a likely candidate

Financial Times report on expected Aukus expansion talks highlights US efforts to draw in Japan as a deterrent against China

Talks will relate to ‘Pillar II’ of the pact, covering quantum computing, undersea, hypersonic, AI and cyber technology, paper says, citing sources

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(From left) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak deliver remarks on the Aukus partnership after meeting at a naval base point in California last year. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:28pm, 7 Apr 2024

The United States, Britain and Australia will announce talks on Monday about bringing new members into their Aukus security pact as Washington pushes for Japan to be involved as a deterrent against China, the Financial Times reported.

The announcement by the group’s defence ministers will be related to “Pillar II” of the pact, which commits the members to jointly developing quantum computing, undersea, hypersonic, artificial intelligence and cyber technology, the newspaper reported on Saturday, citing people familiar with the situation.

They are not considering expanding the first pillar, which is designed to deliver nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia, the FT said.

Aukus, unveiled by the three countries in 2021, is part of their efforts to push back against China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific region. China has called the pact dangerous and warned it could spur a regional arms race.

US President Joe Biden has sought to step up partnerships with American allies in Asia, including Japan and the Philippines, amid China’s historic military build-up and its growing territorial assertiveness.