US, UK, and Australia Join Forces to Develop Hypersonic Weapons

Expanding Security Cooperation to Counter China's Military Expansion

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The trilateral security pact AUKUS, consisting of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, has agreed to cooperate on the development of hypersonic weapons. AUKUS, launched last September when the US and UK supported Australia's acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines, appears to be expanding its security agreement in response to China's rapid military expansion.

On the 5th (local time), US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison issued a joint statement announcing, "The three countries have also agreed to begin cooperation on hypersonic missiles and electronic warfare capabilities." They added, "This plan will be added to the existing efforts by the three countries to strengthen cooperation on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technology, and additional undersea capabilities."

The Financial Times (FT) analyzed, "The trilateral joint development of hypersonic missiles signifies strengthened cooperation to curb China's rise in the Indo-Pacific."

Hypersonic missiles fly at speeds more than five times the speed of sound and at lower altitudes than ballistic missiles, and they can also be equipped with nuclear warheads. Russia is considered the global leader in this technology, followed by China, with Russia and China regarded as ahead of the West.

FT explained, "This agreement was made after the US Department of Defense recognized that China is ahead and sought to intensify its technological development efforts." In fact, China has conducted hundreds of test launches of hypersonic missiles so far, while the US has conducted only about ten.

China immediately protested. Zhang Jun, China's ambassador to the United Nations, said on the same day, "If you do not want to see another Ukraine crisis, you should not take actions that could trigger a crisis," adding, "One should not force others to do what they themselves do not want to do."