A U.S. Marine Base for Australia Irritates China
By JACKIE CALMES
Published: November 16, 2011
President Obama announced that the U.S. planned to deploy 2,500 Marines in Australia to shore up alliances in Asia. However, China accused Mr. Obama of escalating military tensions in the region.
The agreement with Australia has been long discussed since the end of Vietnam War.
"The president said the moves were not intended to isolate China, but they were an unmistakable sign that the United States had grown warier of its intentions." (New York Times)
"While the new military commitment is relatively modest, Mr. Obama has promoted it as the cornerstone of a strategy to confront more directly the challenge posed by China’s rapid advance as an economic and military power. He has also made some progress in creating a new Pacific free-trade zone that would give America’s free-market allies in the region some trading privileges that do not immediately extend to China." (New York Times)
The U.S. have some bases in the North Pacific area but does not have those in Southern area. Therefore, having a base in Australia, South Pacific, would be great for the U.S. The U.S. is not going to build a base of its own in Australia, but is planning to use Australian military facilities instead.
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