China issues ultimatum on AUKUS subs

WARNING: CONTAINS SENSITIVE DEFENCE SECRETS

Chinese trade and defence officials are furious at Australia’s refusal to import purpose-built anchors for the fleet of SSN-AUKUS nuclear-powered attack submarines to be built in South Australia.

A Chinese statement said in part:

“These helium-filled plastic anchors are designed to keep the SSN-AUKUS submarines afloat.

We don’t want them submerging to do naughty things to our navy.

For our future live-fire naval drills off the Australian coast, we want to use these submarines for target practice.

We respectfully ask the Australian Government to reconsider its decision, or there will be consequences.

One definite consequence would be transferring the 99-year lease over the Port of Darwin from Chinese interests to our close partner in strategic defence and trade, Russia.”