China's UN envoy warns of ‘Ukraine-like crisis' after AUKUS' hypersonic weapons deal

In a development, China’s envoy to United Nations, Zhang Jun said on Tuesday spoke against AUKUS partnership on developing hypersonic weapons. Speaking about proposed cooperation deal, Chinese envoy termed it as "things which may le or parts of world into crisis". Stating example of Ukraine, Jun said that countries should refrain from such deals regarding development of hypersonic weapons.

Chinese envoy denounced recent deal between Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) and said that partner countries must refrain from same. Jun noted that countries that plan to cooperate on developing hypersonic weapons could pave way to anor ‘Ukraine-like crisis’. Furrmore, envoy also took a dig at Western nations for deal and said that it was imposing something it is against.

"Anyone who does not want to see Ukrainian crisis should refrain from doing things that may le or parts of world into a crisis like this," Zhang Jun said reacting to announcement by Australia.

"As Chinese saying goes, if you do not like it, do not impose it against ors," he said in an apparent dig at countries. comments came after AUKUS on Tuesday agreed to begin trilateral cooperation on development of new hypersonic and electronic warfare weaponry.

AUKUS to develop hypersonic weapons

As a part of trilateral defence deal - United States, UK, and Australia are planning to announce cooperation to develop hypersonic weapons to counter China's increasing military might, and its expansion in Pacific and South China sea. US Navy might unveil its first installation of a hypersonic weapon similar to ballistic missiles on a warship as early as 2023. This comes as Russia has deployed hypersonic missiles, which are difficult to be shot down due to ir manoeuvrability during ongoing invasion of Ukraine. 

hypersonic weapons are launched at speeds of Mach 5 and demonstrate exceptionally high manoeuvrability. y travel 5 times faster than speed of sound and are capable of switching paths during flight. se missiles can travel at hypersonic speeds and onset trajectories.

three allies - US, UK, and Australia, plan to unveil furr expansion of AUKUS that was intended to help Canberra obtain nuclear-powered submarines. 

China tested a hypersonic weapon system last year, Russia used it in Ukraine 

In October last year, US Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, h informed during a briefing that China tested a hypersonic weapon system, ding that PLA h vanced in its military technology by conducting several hundred tests of hypersonic missiles in contentious South China Sea.

Milley h labelled hypersonic missile test as a “very significant event of a test of a hypersonic weapon system, and it is very concerning” in an interview with Bloomberg. As Russia amassed its military troops on volatile frontier with Ukraine early last year, Russian President Vlimir Putin h ordered his military to develop vanced hypersonic missiles.

(With agency inputs)

Image: AP