China raises concern over US troop boost in Northern Territory

Herald Sun ^ | 17th November 2011 | Phillip Hudson, Angus Thompson

[naturalman1975]

CHINA has issued a stern warning that housing extra US troops in Darwin may not be appropriate or in Australia's best interests.

US marines will conduct private exercises by themselves on Australian soil for the first time under a military build-up revealed just hours after President Barack Obama landed for a whirlwind Australian visit.

The historic move increases America's involvement in the booming Asia-Pacific region as a counter to the rise of China, India and Indonesia.

Reacting to the announcement, China warned the two countries may have overstepped themselves.

[naturalman1975]

Thanks China - we want good relations with you, they are important to our trade.

But if you try to make it a choice between the USA or China, that's a very easy choice for Australia to make.

We don't mind being friends with China - but Americans are our older cousins. Their culture came from the same place ours did and we've spent a lot of time fighting alongside each other.

[RetiredArmy]

China making Japan type WWII threats? Is Pearl Harbor next?

[Williams]

T those of us who know they are evil thugs, the Chinese are transparent.

[bassmaner]

But if you try to make it a choice between the USA or China, that's a very easy choice for Australia to make.

It's not that easy a choice anymore, given the nitwit in the WH that has thrown practically every one of our allies under the bus and kissed the rings of practically every one of our enemies.

[pgkdan]

But if you try to make it a choice between the USA or China, that's a very easy choice for Australia to make.

We don't mind being friends with China - but Americans are our older cousins. Their culture came from the same place ours did and we've spent a lot of time fighting alongside each other.

Works the same way in the otehr direction too! If we have to choose between China and Australia I'm with our 'cousins' down under 100%!

[oldbill]

As one high-ranking Australian general put it some years ago:

“We are a huge nation of only 20 million people. Our defense policy is to be a loyal ally of the United States”

With hugely populated nations of China, Indonesia, and India just over the horizon, and huge resources at stake in the bordering waters, Australia realizes that the only way they can stand up to these hegemons is to have the USA at its back.

The uneducated people that come out of today’s schools are not taught that 70 years ago Australia was being bombed by Japan at Darwin, Townsville and other places. There is a monument in Brisbane (MacArthur’s headquarters) with the legend “They passed this way” commemorating the American military that stopped the invasion of Australia and fought with the Aussies across New Guinea and the arc of islands northward.

The Aussies are the only ones that have been there with us in every war since - Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan. After 9-11, RAAF F-18 fighters deployed to America to fly combat air patrols here in the USA.

The Aussies can tell China to go to hell. Sadly, with Obama, one could sympathize if they feel that those mutual dependencies might not be honored by a guy who bows to Chinese tyrants.