A Chinese embassy official asked Australian officials during an Aukus briefing whether the nuclear-powered submarines were intended for “sightseeing”, according to multiple sources.
Guardian Australia understands several others in the room found the intervention curious, because the Australian government has made no secret of the fact the nuclear-powered submarines are to be used by the Royal Australian Navy.
The comment was made during a briefing held by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Wednesday at which dozens of representatives from other diplomatic missions were also present.
It is believed to have been made in the context of Beijing’s longstanding claims that the Aukus deal is a breach of either the letter or spirit of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
One source said a Chinese official at the briefing said words to the effect of: “What are these boats for? Sightseeing?”
A second source confirmed a comment about “sightseeing” had been made. It is unclear whether the comment was made sarcastically. The Chinese embassy has been contacted for a response.
The Australian government declined to comment.
Dfat has conducted multiple briefings sessions this week for diplomatic missions in Canberra, including specific events for south-east Asia and another for Pacific island countries.
The Chinese ambassador, Xiao Qian, was not in attendance at Wednesday’s briefing but this was not unusual because most countries were represented at a lower level than their heads of mission.
China’s participation in the briefing is a point of interest given the strength of Beijing’s reaction to the Aukus submarine plans from the moment they were unveiled by the Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, the US president, Joe Biden, and the UK prime minister, Rishi Sunak, in San Diego on Tuesday morning.
Australia, the US and the UK argue the NPT regime expressly allows for the transfer of naval nuclear propulsion technology, although they acknowledge this is the first time such a transfer has been made from a nuclear weapons state to a non-nuclear weapons country.
The Aukus partners say they are committed to negotiating a rigorous verification and safeguards package with the International Atomic Energy Agency to set the strongest possible precedent.
China, however, has argued such transfers should only be for peaceful uses.
China – a nuclear weapons state – has put nuclear non-proliferation concerns at the centre of its international campaign against Aukus, knowing that these issues have resonance in south-east Asia and the Pacific.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said this week that the Aukus countries were trying to “coerce the IAEA secretariat into making safeguards exemption arrangements, which would seriously undermine the authority of the body”.
The Australian foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, rejected that argument on Thursday.
“I do not accept those assertions,” Wong said during a press conference in Adelaide.
“Australia has an impeccable record when it comes to nuclear non-proliferation, an impeccable record, and we intend to maintain that.”
Asked whether the Aukus deal would only further strain ties between Canberra and Beijing, Wong said the announcement had been “a long time coming” and the region was “very well aware of it”.
Wong said Australia’s intention was “to help keep the peace, to help keep stability”.
“Australia doesn’t seek to dominate the region, Australia seeks to ensure we contribute to a region that is stable, peaceful, secure, prosperous and in which sovereignty is respected,” she said.
The Dfat briefings were intended to reassure countries across the region – and farther afield – about Australia’s intentions. It comes as Australia seeks to begin formal negotiations with the global nuclear watchdog on a safeguards arrangement.
Australia has sought negotiations under an existing deal it has with the IAEA, known as the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.
The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, has explained that article 14 of that agreement allows Australia to use material for “a nuclear activity, such as nuclear propulsion for submarines, provided that Australia makes an arrangement with the agency in this regard”.
The Australian government is believed to disagree with this provision being characterised as a “loophole” and has promised not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent fuel as part of the nuclear-powered submarine program.
Grossi said that in negotiations with Australia, the IAEA would be “very demanding” and would insist that its inspectors be allowed to check the amount of nuclear fuel in the sealed units before and after the submarines put out to sea.
Grossi told reporters that some countries had “strong feeling” about Aukus but added: “Nobody coerces me. Nobody coerces the IAEA.”
Albanese said on Thursday his government would continue to invest in diplomacy, as he rejected heavy criticism by the former Labor prime minister Paul Keating about the Aukus deal.
“The relationship with China is improving and that is a good thing,” Albanese said.
The prime minister met members of the Chinese-Australian community at an event in the Victorian seat of Aston, where a by-election is due to be held on 1 April.
He said: “We’re sending a message to this community that we represent as a government every community, regardless of where you are from, [and] that we understand that Australia’s diversity is a strength.”
