U.S., UK aid to Australia's acquisition of nuclear submarines "sheer act of nuclear proliferation": Chinese envoy (2)

Photo taken on Sept. 3, 2021 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

"This contradicts the purpose, objective and core obligation of the NPT to the detriment of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime with the NPT at its core and on-going international efforts on this front," Wang stated.

"While firmly safeguarding the validity of the international non-proliferation regime, China wishes to register its grave concern at the development," Wang said.

"In the meantime, we believe that, it is the responsibility of IAEA, as an international organization mandated to implement NPT non-proliferation regime, to openly express its solemn position at the trilateral act by the U.S., the UK and Australia, which contradict their obligations under the NPT," Wang stated.

Wang also stressed that, such an act of nuclear proliferation "will give rise to serious negative implications on the on-going international efforts to address the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula as well as the Iranian nuclear issue".