AUKUS: Why's Australia getting nuclear-powered subs?

The UK, US and Australia have agreed a ground-breaking new defence pact to develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines for the Australian Navy for the first time.

The agreement, dubbed Aukus, will see the three countries work closely together and share technology.

It has been widely interpreted as an attempt to check China's growing military assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific – a region both the UK and US have an interest in.

Watch: UK, US and Australian defence ties strengthened in Aukus pact.

And the development of nuclear-powered submarines for the Australian Navy will increase Western security capabilities in the region.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has denied that Britain is seeking a new "cold war" with China following the announcement of the Aukus partnership.