How do you feel about this?

[webfact]

U.S. adds extra aircraft to Marine force in Australia

By Tom Westbrook

REUTERS

 

An MV-22 Osprey, belonging to the U.S. military, flies during the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's (JMSDF) fleet review at Sagami Bay, off Yokosuka, south of Tokyo October 18, 2015. REUTERS/Toru Hanai

 

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The United States will send extra military aircraft to Australia's tropical north this year, a U.S. Marine Corps spokesman said on Wednesday, bolstering its military presence close to the disputed South China Sea.

 

The Marines' deployment in the strategic city of Darwin, agreed in 2011, was a critical part of former U.S. President Barack Obama's "pivot" to Asia amid China's increased assertiveness in the region.

 

The move also cemented close ties with staunch ally Australia and gave the U.S. a foothold in the area.

 

President Donald Trump's new administration has struck a hawkish tone over Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea Asia, but it has abandoned the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact negotiated by Obama.

 

Marine Corps spokesman Major Chris Logan said there would be an increase in aircraft this year, including sending four MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor planes, which boost the range of the marine force and five AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters.

 

Logan added that Marine numbers would remain at 1,250.

 

"The size and composition of each Marine rotation to Australia is mutually determined ... and is balanced against other resource commitments and respective national priorities," Logan said.

 

The number of soldiers sent to Australia's north has stalled well behind plans for a force of 2,500 by 2020, a goal that was delayed last year from 2017 as originally intended.

 

Australia and the U.S. agreed last October to share more than A$2 billion (1.2 billion pounds) in infrastructure investment and other costs linked to the 25-year deployment.

 

They have also discussed basing U.S. long-range B-1 bombers in Darwin, a move which drew concern from China's foreign ministry.

 

Australia's defence department did not respond to a request for comment, but said in October that both nations intend to reach the 2,500-marine target "over the coming years".

 

Euan Graham, director of the International Security Program at Sydney-based think tank the Lowy Institute said the delay in ramping up troop numbers was unsuprising, given slow progress in negotiations on costs.

 

"The infrastructure that will accommodate the enhanced marine presence couldn't be done before the cost sharing was agreed, and that's not going to ramp up overnight, that will have to be a steady progression," he said.

 

Training exercises in 2016 included joint manoeuvres with soldiers from Japan and China and a programme involving officers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, the department said then.

 

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-01-25

[Emster23]

Good way to draw Australia into it if conflict goes "hot". If I were Aussie government, I'd rethink relationship with USA. What once was stable is advancing to random craziness. Thank you so much, Mr Trump, you really are shaking things up.

[welshissan]

24 minutes ago, Emster23 said:

Good way to draw Australia into it if conflict goes "hot". If I were Aussie government, I'd rethink relationship with USA. What once was stable is advancing to random craziness. Thank you so much, Mr Trump, you really are shaking things up.

Read the article correctly and you will see that it was started during the Obama administration, nothing to do with Trump! China is aggressively trying to expand its territories in the South China seas, got it? 

[GreasyFingers]

All reports only mention the 2500 troups for Darwim. Why were contracts out for 1000 homes in Derby that no one mentions.

[Dumbastheycome]

Just  another   glimpse  of the  " normal"  annexation  of  foreign  territory  by the  USA.

I wonder  how the  47  US  military  bases  in Germany  will  fare  under  the   new   US  regime?   555

[craigt3365]

10 hours ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Just  another   glimpse  of the  " normal"  annexation  of  foreign  territory  by the  USA.

I wonder  how the  47  US  military  bases  in Germany  will  fare  under  the   new   US  regime?   555

Annexation?  Really? LOL  What's Germany got to do with this topic?

 

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/warning-of-intense-war-as-chinas-military-might-approaches-us/news-story/d0537d8efe0768e2a9eb200982cca5ed

Quote

 

The South China Sea is particularly an area of sensitivity for Australia due its geostrategic environment and its reliance on the freedom of navigation being preserved to maintain the integrity of its supply chain.

 

As China ramps up its land reclamation activities in the South China Sea, there is a loose coalition - led by Washington and its regional allies - that is upping the stakes in an effort to deter Beijing from looking to coercively change the status quo in the disputed seas.

 

In response, Australia is cautiously contemplating whether it might undertake freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea in order to reinforce a joint commitment with the US towards free passage of maritime vessels, and also showing public denouncement of land reclamation activities in the area.

 

 

[Cats4ever]

Oz needs to be considered in these times. We are a long standing ally of the US and run a trade deficit with them. We have a balanced relationship with China and run a considerable trade surplus. Ill thought thru tensions could affect either or each of these relationships. Troubling times.

[Grubster]

On 1/25/2017 at 4:39 PM, Emster23 said:

Good way to draw Australia into it if conflict goes "hot". If I were Aussie government, I'd rethink relationship with USA. What once was stable is advancing to random craziness. Thank you so much, Mr Trump, you really are shaking things up.

So you think Australia would be better off just trusting the Chinese.  Australia would be part of Japan had it felt that way and America would have allowed it. What part of this south china sea craziness is brought on by the US.

    Australians will proudly fight side by side with the US and visa versa. Good friends stick together.