PM: Aukus may lead to arms race and provocation

 

Malaysia was of the position that the Australia-UK-US (Aukus) deal might be a catalyst to a regional arms race.

"It may also provoke other powers to be more aggressive in the region, especially in the South China Sea," said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

The PMO said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had informed his Australian counterpart, Scott Morrison, of Malaysia's position during a telephone call yesterday.

The PMO said Malaysia held to the Asean declaration in 1971 that the region was to be a Zone of Peace, Freedom, and Neutrality (Zopfan).

Aukus was concluded yesterday and will see the three countries exchanging technology and intelligence.

However, the most important part of the deal involved the UK and US arming Australia with the means to produce nuclear-powered attack submarines.

Currently, only six countries are capable of producing such weapons.

Nuclear-powered submarines are stealthier and have far longer range than their diesel-electric counterparts.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on a National Security Initiative virtually with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, inside the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 15, 2021.

Morrison called Ismail Sabri to explain Australia's decision to forge Aukus.

The PMO said Ismail Sabri and Morrison renewed commitments to ensure peace, especially in the Indo-Pacific.

"The prime minister of Malaysia also urged all countries to avoid provocation and an arms race in the region, while stressing the importance of mutual respect while respecting existing agreements," said the PMO.

The PMO said both leaders also agreed to improve cooperation and consultation in various aspects, including defence under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. - Mkini