By Fu Bo
傅 波
Despite the universal criticism of the US, the UK and Australia’s consistently intensified cooperation through the AUKUS alliance, the three countries have recently held another joint exercise to try their new tactics and new equipment and improve weapon and equipment interoperability by signing a weapon purchase agreement. Their cliquing for enhanced military capacities has triggered extensive questioning and condemnation.
美国、英国、澳大利亚3国组建“奥库斯”联盟持续强化联盟合作，遭到国际社会普遍诟病。近日，3国再次举行联合军事演习，演练新战术、测试新装备，并通过军备采购协议，提升武器装备互操作性。3国抱团提升军力的做法，引发外界广泛质疑和批评。
Accelerated steps to enhance military capacity
加紧提升军力
Generally speaking, the AUKUS alliance has mainly huddled together for enhanced military capacities in two approaches.
综合来看，“奥库斯”联盟近期主要从以下两个方面抱团提升军力。
On the one hand, they have reinforced unmanned combat capacity. It is learned that armed forces of the three countries tested new technologies during the exercise, with some training subjects being conducted in flat deserts similar to those in Ukraine. They also used AI systems to provide the commanders with a series of best options for destroying the targets and deployed UAVs to carry out long-distance reconnaissance tasks and collect intelligence on enemy positions.
一方面，提升无人战力。据悉，英国、美国和澳大利亚军队在演习中测试了新技术，其中部分训练在类似乌克兰开放平坦地形的沙漠地带进行。此外，美英澳军队还运用人工智能系统，向指挥官提供一系列摧毁目标的最佳选项，并运用无人机遂行远距侦察任务，搜集对手阵地相关情报。
On the other hand, they have improved the performance of their equipment. It is reported that the US State Department has lately approved the sale of US$300 million Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units to the UK, while the US Department of Defense has approved a US$635 million sale of 24 C-130J-30 transport aircraft and relevant equipment to Australia, waiting to clear the Congress.
另一方面，提升装备性能。据报，美国国务院日前批准向英国出售总价值3亿美元的“标枪”反坦克导弹轻型指挥发射装置。此外，美国国防部还批准以63.5亿美元的价格向澳大利亚出售24架C-130J-30运输机和相关设备，当前正在等待美国国会通过。
Extensive questioning
广受各方质疑
Voices of criticism and objection are growing as the AUKUS alliance seems to get tighter.
在“奥库斯”联盟加紧抱团的同时，外界的质疑声也越来越多。
Within the alliance, Australian Senator Jordon Steele-John recently submitted to the parliament a petition letter signed by more than 26,000 people, asking the Australian government to quit AUKUS and stop the Australia-US military integration.
从联盟内部看，澳大利亚参议员乔丹•斯蒂尔•约翰近日向该国议会提交一份超过2.6万人签名的请愿书，呼吁澳大利亚政府退出“奥库斯”联盟，并停止澳军和美军之间的“融合”。
Former Australian prime ministers Keating, Turnbull and Rudd sang in chorus against the AUKUS too, calling it excessively dressed up and its significance intentionally exaggerated. Australian media described the alliance as a scam schemed by the US with the UK being the blind yes-man and Australia doing all the work while taking all the rap.
澳大利亚前总理基廷、特恩布尔、陆克文也齐声反对“奥库斯”联盟，认为这一联盟过度包装，意义被人为夸大。有澳大利亚媒体评论称，“奥库斯”像是一场由美国主谋、英国盲从、澳大利亚火中取栗的骗局。
In the international community, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said America and its allies are pushing a so-called “Indo-Pacific strategy” that’s not open to all countries and that’s competitive against the ASEAN-proposed inclusive, open and equal security cooperation architecture. America’s accelerated militarization of the region is obviously to curb countries like Russia. AUKUS is trying to bring in New Zealand, Canada, Japan and other countries and is advancing a secret maritime surveillance program.
从国际社会看，俄罗斯外交部长拉夫罗夫表示，美国及其盟友正在推行所谓“印太战略”。该战略并非对所有国家开放，与东盟提倡的包容、开放、平等的安全合作架构存在竞争关系。美国加速该地区军事化，明显是要遏制俄罗斯等国。“奥库斯”联盟试图吸引新西兰、加拿大、日本等国加入，并正在推进一项秘密海上活动监视计划。
Southeast Asian countries have been worried about the AUKUS alliance from the very beginning and have publicly expressed their concerns and strong objection. Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Saifuddin Abdullah said his country’s negative view about AUKUS remains unchanged and it attaches great importance to ASEAN’s peace and security. Former Philippine president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said AUKUS’ continuously deepened military technology cooperation seriously worries Southeast Asian countries over a potential arms race.
东南亚国家从“奥库斯”联盟建立伊始便对其忧心忡忡，公开表示忧虑甚至强烈反对。马来西亚外交部长赛夫丁表示，马来西亚对“奥库斯”联盟的负面看法依然不变，仍高度重视东盟地区和平与安全。菲律宾前总统阿罗约表示，“奥库斯”联盟持续深化军事技术合作，使东南亚国家对可能的军备竞赛感到担忧。
Possible chain effects
引发连锁反应
According to analysts, the deepening military cooperation among the US, the UK and Australia may display two trends in the future, which are worth close attention.
有分析人士指出，美英澳持续深化军事合作，未来发展可能呈现以下两种趋势，值得持续关注。
First, they may widen the scope of cooperation. Originally formed as a security alliance, AUKUS may very well move beyond the defense security boundary toward Macro-security in the future given its current dynamics. America’s Fortune magazine reported on November 9 that Washington and London are in the final stage of their talks toward reaching an energy security partnership. Going forward, they and Canberra may conclude more bilateral and multilateral security agreements in the name of external security threats.
一方面，合作议题或拓展。“奥库斯”原本是安全同盟，但从目前发展态势看，未来很有可能突破防务安全“边界”，向着“大安全”的方向发展。美国《财富》杂志11月9日报道称，美英计划达成“能源安全伙伴关系”，目前正处于谈判的最后阶段。未来，美英澳3国可能以外部安全威胁为噱头，达成更多双边、多边安全协议。
Second, they may expand the membership. The three AUKUS members have been seeking partners both in Europe and the Asia Pacific. Lately, the US and the UK held military exercises dubbed “Puma-2022” in southeast Poland with countries including Poland, Czech, Hungary, and Slovak, not hiding their intention to rope in Central and Eastern European countries.
另一方面，联盟成员或增加。无论是在欧洲还是在亚太地区，美英澳3国一直在寻找合作伙伴。近期，美英两国与波兰、捷克、匈牙利和斯洛伐克等国，在波兰东南部举行代号为“美洲狮-2022”的军事演习，拉拢中东欧国家的意味十分明显。
Moving forward, AUKUS may take in more American allies and partners, which is worth close attention from relevant countries as that will further aggravate regional tension and sabotage regional peace and stability.
未来，“奥库斯”联盟或将吸纳更多美国盟友和伙伴，将进一步加剧地区紧张局势，破坏地区和平稳定，需引起相关国家高度关注。
