China has accused Australia, the US, and the UK (AUKUS) of forming an “Asia-Pacific NATO” after the alliance announced that they would be jointly developing hypersonic weapons to keep up with China and Russia amid a hypersonic weapons race.

“Its (AUKUS’) ultimate goal is to build a NATO replica in the Asia-Pacific to serve the US hegemony and self-interests through and through. Asia-Pacific countries will resolutely say no to it for sure,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian said.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian’s Regular Press Conference on April 6, 2022 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China). Source: https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/202204/t20220406_10665019.html
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian’s Regular Press Conference on April 6, 2022 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China)

Despite this claim, the Philippines and India have already expressed welcoming rhetoric for AUKUS, with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. saying it was an important counterbalance in Southeast Asia.

“The enhancement of a near abroad ally’s ability to project power should restore and keep the balance, rather than destabilize it,” the secretary said. “Proximity breeds brevity in response time, thereby enhancing an ASEAN near friend and ally’s military capacity to respond to a threat to the region or challenge the status quo,” he added without explicitly stating a threat.

However, it has been known that the Philippines has been at odds with China due to its aggression in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. Its President, Rodrigo Duterte, has since been seen to be shifting back to the US alliance after almost six years of perceived loyalty to China and President Xi Jinping.