US president Barack Obama and Australian prime minister Julia Gillard today unveiled plans to deepen the US military presence in the Asia-Pacific, with 2,500 US marines operating out of a de facto base in northern Australia.
US troops and aircraft will operate out of the tropical city of Darwin, only 820kms from Indonesia, able to respond quickly to any humanitarian and security issues in Southeast Asia, where disputes over sovereignty of the South China Sea are causing rising tensions.
"With my visit to the region, I am making it clear that the United States is stepping up its commitment to the entire Asia-Pacific region," Mr Obama told a joint news conference with Ms Gillard in Canberra.
"It is appropriate for us to make sure...that the security architecture for the region is updated for the 21st century and this initiative is going to allow us to do that," he said.
The US deployment to Australia is likely to add to China's concerns that Washington is trying to encircle it with bases in Japan and South Korea and now troops in Australia.
But Mr Obama stressed that China was not being isolated.
"The notion that we fear China is mistaken. The notion that we are looking to exclude China is mistaken," he said, adding China was not being excluded from the planned Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP) on trade.
"We welcome a rising, peaceful China," he said.
But China's rising power means it must take on greater responsibilities to ensure free trade and security in the region, he added.
"It's important for them to play by the rules of the road and, in fact, help underwrite the rules that have allowed so much remarkable economic progress," he said.
The US deployment to Australia, the largest since the second World War, will start next year with a company of 200-250 marines in Darwin, the "Pearl Harbour of Australia", Ms Gillard said.
More bombs were dropped on Darwin during a surprise Japanese raid than on Pearl Harbour, Hawaii.
A total of 2,500 US troops would eventually rotate through the port city. The United States will bring in ships, aircraft and vehicles, as well as increase military training.
China said the move by the US deserves greater scrutiny and might not be appropriate.
Foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin told reporters at a regular press briefing that global financial difficulties have driven home the need for greater international co-operation.
In light of those difficulties, Mr Liu said it was worth discussing whether the US plan to deploy Marines in northern Australia is in line with the common interests of the international community.
Agencies