Australia’s newly unveiled defense pact with the United Kingdom and the United States is expected to heighten tensions in the Indo-Pacific, with Indonesia and other countries finding themselves caught in the middle of an arms race between Western allies and China.

Canberra will get US cruise missiles and a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines as part of the new agreement, dubbed AUKUS, which has angered Beijing and worried nuclear nonproliferation activists and regional diplomats.

US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the partnership on Thursday, to the surprise of many countries.

Morrison said the three nations respected “freedom” and “the rule of law” and that the alliance would help ensure security in the region.

Western allies often reference the rule of law and freedom whe…