Can Aukus really counter China?

Rishi Sunak has announced in California the details of the UK-US pact to supply Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. Aukus was first-unveiled in September 2021: in the 18 months since, the three nations have agreed that the new fleet will be built in Britain and Australia to British designs. It’s only the second time ever that the United States have shared nuclear submarine technology with its allies, following a similar UK/US deal in 1958. The first of these submarines are expected to be ready in the UK in the late 2030s and will mainly be built by BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, and Rolls-Royce. Appearing at a joint statement on Monday with President Biden and Prime Minister Albanese, Sunak hailed the Aukus arrangement, stating that ‘for the first time ever, it will mean three fleets of submarines working together across both the Atlantic and Pacific keeping our oceans free, open, and prosperous for decades to come.’