Sunak: Beijing Represents "Systemic Challenge" But AUKUS Not About China

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, speaking with Sky News, has said that the AUKUS submarine deal is not about specifically designed to counter China but is an, "unprecedented multilateral defence partnership between three allies who share the same values."

• Sunak: "The AUKUS partnership is not about any one country, but more broadly about China, I think its just clear that it represents a systemic challenge to our world order. Its a country with fundamentally different values. More authoritarian at home and more assertive abroad."
• Sunak's comments come ahead of meetings in San Diego with AUKUS partners US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Prime Minister Anthony Albanese where the leaders are set to announce a landmark submarine deal.
• Confirmation of the AUKUS submarine deal will likely draw ire from Beijing who last year described sharing nuclear technology within AUKUS as, "a blatant act of nuclear proliferation."