Saturday, November 19, 2011

US Marine Base at Australia builds up tension between China

Last Wednesday, Obama has announced that 2500 Marines will be deployed at Australia to strengthen the alliance among Asian nations, which caused immediate negative response from Beijing, rising military tension around the region.
This agreement will result in military of United States staying for long-term in Pacific for the first time.
It is reported that leaders of China are arguing that what Obama is attempting to accomplish is to encircle China militarily. Reacting to those claims, Obama commented that he “made a deliberate and strategic decision - as a Pacific nation, the United States will play a larger and long-term role in shaping this region and its future.” He also emphasized that this movement is not to isolate China but to make it clear that US stays guarded and careful for China’s any military actions, especially since China has shown its heavy yet rapid growth of military and economic power.

He additionally explained that this is also an outcome of wishes from allies around this region from India to Japan. At the same time, however, some allies showed their concerns that this action may affect their leadership role to China.
Instead of building a new base, they will be using the facilities at Darwin. 200 to 250 will arrive next year first and eventually there will be 2500 Marines will be arriving.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/world/asia/obama-and-gillard-expand-us-australia-military-ties.html?ref=asia

Naoko Takada

No comments: