What's happened
Australia has signed a deal with the US and UK to acquire nuclear-powered submarines over the next decade, with an option to buy two more vessels if required.
Why it matters
The acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines is Australia's biggest-ever defence project and is seen as a significant move to counter China's growing military presence in the Asia Pacific. The deal has been criticised by Beijing, which accused the three countries of harbouring a "Cold War mentality" that risks greater escalation in the region.
What the papers say
The sources are consistent in their reporting of the event and its significance, but differ in their portrayal of China's reaction to the deal.
How we got here
The AUKUS defence pact was announced in 2021 by the US, UK and Australia, and is seen as a counterweight to China's growing military presence in the Asia Pacific. The acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines is part of this pact and is aimed at enhancing Australia's defence capabilities.
More on these topics
-
Australia, officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.
-
The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.
-
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northÂwestern coast of the European mainland.
-
Rishi Sunak is a British politician serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer since February 2020. He was appointed Chancellor by the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, following the resignation of Sajid Javid during a Cabinet reshuffle in 2020.
-
AUKUS is a trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States, announced on 15 September 2021 for the Indo-Pacific region. Under the pact, the US and the UK will help Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
-
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is an American politician who is the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 and represented Delaware in the United States Senate
-
The Royal Navy is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by the English kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against the Kingdom of France.
-
China, officially the People's Republic of China, is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population of around 1.4 billion in 2019.