U.S. sends message to China with military buildup in Australia
CANBERRA, Australia -- President Obama insisted on his visit to Australia that the U.S. does not fear China even as he announced for the first time a sustained American military presence in Australia.
Mr. Obama said the U.S. was "here to stay."
The agreement is a major symbol of American intentions to use our half-century long alliance with Australia to counter-balance the rising economic and military power of China.
This new agreement could be just the tip of the iceberg in a rebalancing of U.S. military commitment in Asia. It means 200 to 250 Marines will arrive next year, with a force eventually building to 2,500 strong. The U.S. Air Force will also have increased access to airfields.
White House officials don't deny this stepping up of American military cooperation is about sending a message to China. A chief concern is protecting the navigation lines of the South China Sea, which see $5 trillion in world trade and $1.2 trillion in U.S. trade.
