Australia denies commitment to join US in potential Taiwan conflict.

Australia has not committed to joining the US in a potential future war over Taiwan as part of the Aukus negotiations, according to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles. He defended Australia's plan to acquire nuclear-powered submarines with help from the US and UK, saying they would back up Australia's interest in protecting trade and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. Marles denied that Australia had given the US any commitment to join it in a conflict over Taiwan in return for access to the Virginia-class submarines. China has criticised the Aukus deal, calling it a "typical cold war mentality".