Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard inspect guards of honor during a welcome ceremony in Beijing, capital of China, April 26, 2011. (Xinhua/Li Tao)Australia To Be Port Of Call For Chinese Navy -- Sydney Morning Herald
CHINESE warships could be heading to Australian ports this year after the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, took "a few small steps" towards military transparency and co-operation with President Hu Jintao.
Ms Gillard told the Herald last night her key meeting with Mr Hu was "friendly in demeanour".
Her inaugural visit to Beijing as prime minister appears to have bookended two years of tensions which began with China's taking umbrage with the 2009 Australian defence white paper, which it believed painted China as a military threat.
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Update: Australia to boost military ties with China -- AFP
My Comment: The other countries in the region (Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, India) that have a historical (and present) cautious and shaky relationship with China are all taking note of this surprising development. What is my take .... The Australians live in the neighborhood, and with American power in decline, they are hitching their boat to the biggest bully on the block.
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