Link to article: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-build-eight-nuclear-powered-submarines-under-new-indo-pacific-security-2021-09-16/
Under the new Indo-Pacific pact, Australia will be only the second country, after Great Britain, to be given access to the United States’ nuclear technology. Although China was not specifically mentioned in the dealings, this new pact will attempt to control and push back on China’s strong influence on the Indo-Pacific in Taiwan and the South China sea. This pact will likely be seen as a huge threat to Beijing. The submarine deal will help Australia fight off any maritime forces that pose a threat to them, and although not mentioned, China is the only country currently that could fill that position. This could negatively impact already strained trade and economic ties between China and Australia while also making France feel betrayed in this deal.
This pact will change relationships between countries all over the world. In the indo-pacific, China has accused the U.S., Britain, and Australia of having a ‘Cold War mentality’ in the new deal. The deal will benefit both the United States and Australia with providing protection and assistance to Australia while also benefiting the United States in return with business and large amounts of money for the nuclear powered submarines. It will also benefit the United States by controlling China’s power and growing influence in the surrounding areas. It will also affect the relationship between France, the U.S., and Australia because the new submarines will replace the $40 billion dollar submarine deal with France and Australia causing France to feel like they have been slighted from an essential submarine defense deal.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is an intergovernmental organization in which 10 member states in southeast asia collaborate in politics, security, economics, military, education, and sociocultural aspects. Japanese officials said they would cooperate in this deal with the Quad grouping of US, Australia and India, Southeast Asia’s ASEAN group, and Europe in order to create a safe and open Indo-Pacific. With United States influence, it is hoped that with the new submarine deal it will stop China from controlling the pacific area and spreading their authoritarian style ideals and government.