US, Australia, UK consider expanding key security deal to deter China: report

The United States, Britain and Australia will begin talks on adding new members to the Orcus security pact, with Washington urging Japan to take part in a bid to deter China, the Financial Times reported on Saturday.

The newspaper quoted people familiar with the matter as saying that Orcus Defense Minister will announce on Monday that they will launch negotiations related to the “second pillar” of the agreement, which requires member countries to jointly develop quantum computing, undersea, hypersonics, artificial intelligence and network technology.

The Financial Times said they were not considering expanding Pillar 1, which aims to provide Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines.

The Aukus plan launched by the three countries in 2023 is part of their efforts to counter China’s growing power in the Indo-Pacific region. China has called the Orcus Agreement dangerous and warned it could spark a regional arms race.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said on Wednesday that the Orcus submarine program could help deter any Chinese action against Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of China.

U.S. President Joe Biden seeks to strengthen partnerships with U.S. allies in Asia, including Japan and the Philippines, amid China’s historic military buildup and growing territorial assertiveness.

Biden will host Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington on Wednesday and a trilateral summit with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday.