China urges US, UK and Australia to drop 'Cold War mentality' of submarine pact

China's Foreign Ministry urges the United States, Britain and Australia to drop the "Cold War mentality" of the so-called AUKUS defence pact.

A number of states in Southeast Asia have expressed reluctance to back the agreement, in which the US and Britain have pledged to help Australia acquire nuclear-powered submarines as part of plans to counter China's influence.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also says Beijing has "always upheld an objective and just position" on the war in Ukraine.