Aukus: UK, US and Australia launch pact to counter China

The UK, US and Australia have announced a historic security pact in the Asia-Pacific, in what’s seen as an effort to counter China.

It will let Australia build nuclear-powered submarines for the first time, using technology provided by the US.

The Aukus pact, which will also cover AI and other technologies, is one of the countries’ biggest defence partnerships in decades, analysts say.

China has condemned the agreement as “extremely irresponsible”.