US forces expand Australia presence

US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard have announced a new agreement to expand the American military presence in Australia, outlining plans for up to 250 personnel by the middle of 2012.

Ms Gillard said the expansion will strengthen its co-operation with the US and the military presence will grow to a full force of about 2,500 personnel.

Mr Obama said the new agreement will strengthen security throughout the region.

The move, along with previously disclosed plans to deploy military ships to Singapore, highlights growing concerns about China’s more aggressive stance in recent years.

The agreement will allow up to 250 US Marines to be stationed in northern Australia beginning next year.

Mr Obama sidestepped questions about whether the move was a direct attempt to counter China, and insisted that his administration welcomed China’s peaceful growth.

But he said “with their rise come increased responsibilities. It’s important for them to play by rules of the road.”

The US and smaller Asian nations have grown increasingly concerned about China claiming dominion over vast areas of the Pacific which the US considers international waters, and reigniting old territorial disputes, including confrontations over the South China Sea.

China’s defence spending has increased threefold since the 1990s to about $160bn last year, and its military has recently tested a new stealth jet fighter and launched its first aircraft carrier.

Mr Obama said the new deployment to Australia was important because it would help partners in Asia feel that “we have the presence that’s necessary to maintain the security architecture in the region”.