The Aukus pact is a sign of a new global order | Rana Mitter

The deal has upset China, but it also binds the US into European security, in a world where Nato may be less relevant

France is furious. Theresa May is worried. The announcement of the new Australia-UK-US alliance (Aukus) and the ditching of a previous French-Australian submarine deal has led France's foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, to term the pact a stab in the back", while the former British prime minister is concerned about Britain being dragged into a war over the future of Taiwan.

Oddly enough, Beijing's reaction has been rather muted. Yes, it has accused the west of a cold war mentality", and Xi Jinping has warned foreigners not to interfere in the region, but its warning that China would closely monitor the situation" was close to a cut and paste" outrage.