Just a day after the AUKUS alliance was announced, China has described the move as “extremely irresponsible” and “narrow-minded”

Under the deal, the US and the UK will team up with Australia to provide the nation with the technology and information required to build nuclear-powered submarines.

More importantly, it is also being viewed by many as a large-scale attempt to counter China’s growing influence and dominance throughout the world, and particularly in the South China Sea.

This has angered Beijing, with China’s foreign ministry spokesperson saying the alliance risks “severely damaging regional peace… and intensifying the arms race”.

The spokesperson described the pact as “the obsolete cold war mentality”, warning the three nations are “hurting their own interests”.

This comes as many Chinese state-owned media organisations published similar opinions, with the Global Times newspaper saying Australia has “turned itself into an adversary of China”.

The AUKUS alliance will see the US share its nuclear submarine technology for the first time in 50 years… after initially sharing it with Britain.

Nuclear-powered submarines are faster and harder to detect than conventionally powered boats.

Meanwhile, Australia’s PM has denied that the country has any plans to install nuclear weapons on the vessels.