Will Australia Join The U.S. To Counter China In The South China Sea?

The US has been conducting freedom of navigation operations and has made no secret that it would like Australia do the same.(Supplied: Defence.gov.au)

ABC News Online: US official urges Australia to participate in South China Sea freedom of navigation operations

The Federal Government is under renewed pressure to muscle up to China in the disputed South China Sea ahead of crucial meetings between top US and Australian officials this week.

Last week, the ABC revealed that Australian warships encountered the Chinese navy while sailing through the region to the Philippine Sea for training exercises with the American and Japanese navies.

Australia has now hardened its position against Beijing's territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea, labelling the activity illegal in a statement to the United Nations.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Foreign Minister Marise Payne will be likely to discuss the regional flashpoint with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and US Defence Secretary Mark Esper at annual AUSMIN talks in Washington.

The US has been conducting an increasing number of freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) in the South China Sea and has made no secret that it would like to see other nations — including Australia — do the same.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The nations that need to join this "alliance" are the countries that are being directly impacted by China's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea .... Vietnam, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia .... Defence strategists say more nations need to join Australia and the US in South China Sea (Sydney Morning Herald). Unfortunately, these nations are staying on the sidelines.

More News On U.S. - Australia Military Relations

Australia to pursue 'national interest' when US asks for South China Sea action -- The Guardian
Australia tells U.S. it has no intention of injuring important China ties -- Reuters
US, Australia seek new military cooperation in face of China -- AFP
Australia to step up South China Sea defence cooperation with US – but won't commit to patrols -- The Guardian
US presses Australia to step up naval exercises in South China Sea -- The Guardian
U.S., Australian Officials Reaffirm Strong Alliance -- US Department of Defense

U.S. Secretary Of State Pompeo Warns Australia That The U.S. Could 'Disconnect' From Australia Over Victoria's Belt and Road Deal With China

ABC News Online: Ambassador intervenes after Mike Pompeo warns US could 'disconnect' from Australia over Victoria's Belt and Road deal

The US ambassador to Australia has played down a suggestion from his Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that his nation could "simply disconnect" from Australia if Victoria's trade deal with Beijing threatened its telecommunication security.

On Sunday morning, Mr Pompeo said while he was not aware of the detail of Victoria's agreement, it could impact his nation's Five Eyes intelligence-sharing partnership with Australia.

In an interview with Sky News, Mr Pompeo warned the Belt and Road agreement with the Andrews Government increased the Chinese communist regime's ability to do "harm".

China's trillion-dollar Belt and Road initiative (BRI) is a global infrastructure push aiming to recreate the glory days of China's ancient Silk Road trade routes.

Read more ....

Update: Warning US could ‘disconnect’ from Australia over Belt and Road deal with China hosed down (News.com.au)

WNU Editor: The US ambassador to Australia is playing down a suggestion from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that the U.S. could "simply disconnect" from Australia if Victoria's trade deal with Beijing will impact telecommunication security. The problem with the US ambassador's remarks is that he is not the boss. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is. My prediction. Details on Victoria's trade deal with Beijing have not been released. But if it does threaten Australia's telecommunications agreement with the U.S., I am sure it is going to be blocked.

It's Now The Time For A Massive U.S. Navy Base In Australia?

Image: Flickr / Official U.S. Navy Imagery

National Interest: It's Time for a Massive U.S. Navy Base in Australia

Today the time has come to expand and deepen the transpacific relationship beyond periodic U.S. Marine deployments and air-force exercises.

Some ideas are worth broaching even when it’s plain no one will act on them instantly, in whole, or even in part. They make sense even when vagaries of politics or strategy may rule out implementing them. They force people to think—and on occasion, the times catch up with the idea. Case in point: back in 2011 my wingman Toshi Yoshihara and I bruited about the idea of basing U.S. naval forces in Australia. We went big. Under our proposal, an aircraft-carrier expeditionary strike group or another heavy-hitting fleet contingent would call some Australian seaport home.

That would make Oz a U.S. naval hub on par with Japan, where Yokosuka and Sasebo play host to the U.S. Seventh Fleet.

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WNU Editor: I would also add a massive U.S. air base (or two) into this discussion. The geopolitical and security situation in Asia is changing, and Australia will need to change also. Aligning itself even closer to the U.S. is a debate that Australians will need to have. And I would recommend sooner rather than later.

The Commitment To Modernize Lombrum Naval Base On Manus Island Is Making Papua New Guinea And Indonesia Nervous

SCMP: The tiny island with a big role in US plans for the South China Sea

* The bare-bones Lombrum Naval Base on tiny Manus Island could be a key part of efforts to push back against Chinese influence in regional waters
* But the big task ahead for Washington and Canberra is to calm nerves in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia about the base

Papua New Guinea’s now-bare-bones Lombrum Naval Base, once a major allied staging point in the Pacific War against Japan, could be the crucial jigsaw piece that America’s strategic planners have been searching for as they try to push back against China’s rising assertions in regional waters.

But as Washington and Canberra forge ahead with plans to upgrade the facility – and potentially deploy assets there in the future – strategic observers say the two stalwart allies must tread carefully to avoid tripping up another country friendly to both: Indonesia.

For now there are no signs that the upgrade has set off alarms at the highest levels of President Joko Widodo’s government, but comments this week by one mid-level official suggest there may be pockets of anxiety.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Papua New Guinea And Indonesia should be more nervous on what China is doing rather than what the U.S. and Australia are doing.

U.S., Australia To Develop Pacific Naval Base In Papua New Guinea To Check China

BBC: US to join Australia in Papua New Guinea naval base plan

The US says it will join Australia in developing a naval base in Papua New Guinea (PNG), in an apparent move to curb China's growing influence.

Vice-President Mike Pence said the three countries would work together on the facility on Manus Island.

Australia announced last month that it would work with PNG to develop the island's Lombrum Naval Base.

Mr Pence made the announcement on the sidelines of the Apec summit in the PNG capital, Port Moresby.

"The United States will partner with Papua New Guinea and Australia on their joint initiative at Lombrum Naval Base," he said.

Read more ....

More News On U.S., Australia And Papua New Guinea Agreeing To Develop A Pacific Naval Base

US to partner with Australia, Papua New Guinea on Manus Island naval base -- ABC News Online
U.S. joins Australian plan to develop new Pacific naval base -- Reuters
America to partner with Australia to develop naval base on Manus Island -- The Guardian
U.S., Australia to Develop Pacific Naval Base in Check on China -- Bloomberg
US to Expand Pacific Base in Bid to Stop China’s Growing Influence -- Military.com/Qatar Tribune
US to expand Pacific military base together with Australia in bid to stop China’s growing influence -- RT
Pence Unveils Plan For US-Australian Pacific Base, Spiking Tensions With China -- Zero Hedge
Joint US-Australian naval base on Manus Island a 'significant pushback' against China's Pacific ambitions -- ABC News Online

Australian Officials Belive President Trump Is Ready To Order A Strike Against Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., February 23, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

ABC News Online: Donald Trump could be ready to order a strike against Iran, Australian Government figures say

Senior figures in the Turnbull Government have told the ABC they believe the United States is prepared to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities, perhaps as early as next month, and that Australia is poised to help identify possible targets.

It comes amid intense sabre-rattling by US President Donald Trump and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.

The ABC has been told Australian defence facilities would likely play a role in identifying targets in Iran, as would British intelligence agencies.

But a senior security source emphasised there was a big difference between providing accurate intelligence and analysis on Iran's facilities and being part of a "kinetic" mission.

"Developing a picture is very different to actually participating in a strike," the source said.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Australian Prime Minister is downplaying these reports (but he is not denying them) .... Australian PM Turnbull says 'no reason to believe' Trump is planning Iran strike (The Guardian).

Will Australia 'Automatically' Side With The U.S. In A War With North Korea?

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull reacts during a media conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, August 18, 2017. AAP/Mick Tsikas/via Reuters

Helen Clark, Asia Times: Does Australia have Trump’s back on North Korea?

While Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull assures his American ally the two sides are "attached at the hip", a war-wary public hopes for a smaller role than in previous US-led conflicts

As the United States endeavors to build a coalition of the willing against North Korea, what role would long-time ally Australia play in a potential conflict?

Australia has joined for the first time the Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint military exercises underway now between the United States and South Korea to defend the latter from a North Korea attack.

The exercises, scheduled to run from August 21-31, are the world’s biggest computerized command and control drill, with over 50,000 South Korean and 17,000 American soldiers participating.

Australia’s inclusion comes as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offers his support in any potential war with North Korea. While North Korea’s mouthpiece media said Australia’s participation in the exercise was “suicidal”, Canberra’s role in any real conflict would likely be minimal.

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WNU editor: Australia is not the only country sending mixed signals on a possible North Korean war .... German Chancellor Angela Merkel: Germany Will Not Automatically Side With The U.S. In A War With North Korea.

Australian Prime Minister Turnbull Mocks President Trump In Leaked Recordings

.@TurnbullMalcolm impersonates Donald Trump in leaked audio. #9News https://t.co/IxWHYDg7Y8 pic.twitter.com/VRizKreW9U

— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) June 15, 2017

New York Times: Malcolm Turnbull, Australian Leader, Pokes Fun at Trump in Leaked Recording

SYDNEY, Australia — Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s first phone call with President Trump was famously unpleasant. His next one might be even more so.

On Thursday, an Australian news network released a brief recording of Mr. Turnbull poking fun at the president, at a dinner full of journalists that was supposed to be off the record.

“The Donald and I, we are winning and winning in the polls,” said Mr. Turnbull (whose actual poll numbers, like Mr. Trump’s, are nothing to boast about). “We are winning so much. We are winning like we have never won before.”

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Update #1: Australia's Turnbull mocks US President Trump in leaked audio (CNN)
Update #2: Leaked audio: Malcolm Turnbull mimics Donald Trump (News.com.au)

WU Editor: The Australian Prime Minister is now having regrets that this has become public .... Australian leader disappointed Trump parody became public (Washington Post/AP). More here .... Turnbull in damage control after parody of Trump (The Australian). I actually found his impersonation funny .... and their poll numbers are also about the same .... for President Trump it is around 47% favorable Daily Presidential Tracking Poll (Rasmussen) .... for PM Turnbull around 45% Australians Like Turnbull's Budget, Just Not His Government (Bloomberg).

Former Australian Defense Chief: 'Because Of China Stay Away From Joining U.S. Navigation Exercises In The South China Sea'

The Australian: Stay away from China, former defence chief warns

Former chief of the Defence Force, Sir Angus Houston, has surprised hawks in the military ­establishment by warning against freedom-of-navigation exercises near Chinese-constructed islands in the South China Sea.

Defence Minister Marise Payne responded by labelling Sir Angus’s comments — which back the government’s position — as a “constructive contribution”, while Labor said it would stick to its harder line and advocate for the exercises.

The comments come amid ­signals from the Trump administration it will adopt a tough stance on China.

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Update: Australia should not join US in South China Sea operations, says retired defence chief (The Guardian).

WNU Editor: Former chief of the Defence Force Sir Angus Houston believes that negotiation is the way to go .... but the problem is that China has shown no interest in negotiating what they believe is their territorial right .... doubly so with the constant threats coming from China .... 'We must take revenge' Chinese call for WAR with Australia over South China Sea dispute (Express).

Who Leaked The U.S. President - Australian Prime Minister Phone Call?

Daily Mail: Who leaked Trump and Turnbull's phone call? Claims President's own advisers may have leaked details of clash with

* Australian PM to prove he doesn't want refugee deal
* Canberra sources suggested Trump's own team leaked phone call with Turnbull
* President 'yelled' at Australian PM over deal to resettle 1,250 refugees in the US
* Trump reportedly accused Turnbull of trying to send the 'next Boston bombers'
* Insiders speculated that chief strategist Steve Bannon could have leaked details

Just a handful of close advisers were privy to President Donald Trump's heated first phone call with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

But despite just a few of Trump's inner circle hearing the tense conversation, details of the two leaders' supposedly blazing row have spread from Washington to Canberra - rocking the Turnbull administration.

The new President is said to have slammed Turnbull over a deal he agreed with Barack Obama which would have seen 1,250 refugees on Manus Island and Nauru shipped to the US.

A furious Trump is reported to have accused the Australian leader of trying to export the 'next Boston bombers' directly to the United States.

With no obvious whistleblower in the Oval Office during the telephone call on Sunday, some have suggested that one of Trump's own team may have leaked the conversation.

Read more ....

Previous Post: U.S. President Trump And Australian PM Turnbull Have Testy Phone Call On Refugees

WNU Editor: Some in the media are putting the blame for this leak on chief strategist Steve Bannon .... which is interesting since he despises/hates the main stream media .... especially publications like the Washington Post who were the first to leak this story. What's my take .... I know how foreign ministry operations work, and the sequence of events on how such a phone call is handled is like this .... the phone call is made, discussion ensues and a transcript is made within a few hours. Transcript goes to the foreign ministry/State Department the next day (or sooner) where it is then archived. Since the details of this leak are very specific .... and it happened only a few days after the phone call .... it tells me that it is coming from the transcript of the discussion .... which in turn tells me that it is coming from the U.S. State Department itself. Rex Tillerson was only confirmed last night as U.S. Secretary of State .... U.S. Senate Confirms Rex Tillerson As U.S. Secretary Of State (February 1, 2017). Here is an easy prediction .... The State Department is full of former President Obama employees who have no love of the new administration .... U.S. Secretary of State Tillerson's first job will be to clean out house.

U.S. President Trump And Australian PM Turnbull Have Testy Phone Call On Refugees

Washington Post: No ‘G’day, mate’: On call with Australian prime minister, Trump badgers and brags

It should have been one of the most congenial calls for the new commander in chief — a conversation with the leader of Australia, one of America’s staunchest allies, at the end of a triumphant week.

Instead, President Trump blasted Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over a refu­gee agreement and boasted about the magnitude of his electoral college win, according to senior U.S. officials briefed on the Saturday exchange. Then, 25 minutes into what was expected to be an hour-long call, Trump abruptly ended it.

At one point, Trump informed Turnbull that he had spoken with four other world leaders that day — including Russian President Vladi­mir Putin — and that “this was the worst call by far.”

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WNU Editor: President Trump is making it very clear to world leaders that business as usual is no more. But world leaders like Australian PM Turnbull should not feel signalled out .... many in the U.S. are also having the same problem adjusting to the realisation that Donald Trump is their President.

More News On U.S. President Trump And Australian PM Turnbull Having A Testy Phone Call On Refugees

Report: Trump, Australian PM Turnbull have tense phone call over Muslim refugees -- CBS/AP
Trump struggles to connect with Pacific ally Australia in call with PM Turnbull -- CNBC
Trump-Turnbull phonecall: is PM damaged over refugee deal? -- The Australian
Donald Trump: The phone call that rocked the relationship between US and Australia -- ABC News Online
'I will study this dumb deal': Trump speaks out after 'hanging up on Turnbull' -- 7 News
Donald Trump doesn't care about Australia, says reporter behind sensational story on President's call with Malcolm Turnbull -- Sydney Morning Herald
Trump lashes 'dumb deal' with Australia on refugees after fraught call with Turnbull -- The Guardian
Donald Trump teaches Malcolm Turnbull a lesson in not playing nice -- ABC News Online
Report: Trump lashes out at Australian PM on phone call -- The Hill
Trump call with Australia's Turnbull ended abruptly, report says -- UPI
President Donald Trump 'slammed Malcolm Turnbull over refugee deal, accused him of trying to 'ship the next Boston bombers' to the U.S. then HUNG UP on their hour-long call after just 25 minutes' -- Daily Mail

Australian Relations With The Incoming Trump Administration Are Not Going To Be Smooth

ABC News Online: Asylum seekers: Malcolm Turnbull downplays concerns Donald Trump may reverse refugee resettlement deal

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has sought to downplay concerns that a one-off refugee resettlement deal with the United States could be cancelled once President-elect Donald Trump assumes office in January.

The deal for an unspecified number of refugees held in offshore processing centres on Nauru and in Papua New Guinea was announced on Sunday with US officials to begin vetting refugees this week.

Their arrival will come around two months before Mr Trump takes office, but Mr Turnbull would not be drawn on concerns about the incoming administration when asked today.

"We have a very long history of cooperation with the United States," he said.

"The United States has no closer ally, we have no closer ally."

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been compared to Donald Trump .... especially on issues like immigration. But first impressions are everything .... and I am sure that this is not going to leave a good impression with the incoming Trump administration .... Australian prime minister did not tell Trump of refugee deal (AP).

Senior U.S. Army Official: 'Australia Must Choose Between United States And China'

Australian flag flutters in front of the Great Hall of the People during a welcoming ceremony for Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (not in picture) in Beijing, China, April 14, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee

Reuters: Australia must choose between United States and China: U.S. Army official

A senior U.S. soldier said on Thursday Australia must choose between a stronger U.S. alliance or closer ties with China, and urged Canberra to take a tougher stance against Chinese claims in the South China Sea.

The Pentagon, however, disputed the statement by U.S. Army Assistant Chief of Staff Colonel Tom Hanson, saying it did not represent the position of the U.S. government.

"I think the Australians need to make a choice ... it's very difficult to walk this fine line between balancing the alliance with the United States and the economic engagement with China," Hanson said on Australian Broadcasting Corp. Radio.

"There's going to have to be a decision as to which one is more of a vital national interest for Australia," he said. Hanson said the comments reflected his personal view and were not necessarily that of the U.S. government.

A Pentagon spokesman said that Hanson was expressing his "personal view."

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Pentagon says no .... Time to Choose between U.S. and China, American Officer Tells Australia (Paul McLeary, Foreign Policy).

U.S. Wants To Base B-1 And B-52 Bombers In Australia

IBTimes: US In Talks To Deploy B-1 Bombers, Expand B-52 Missions In Australia Amid Growing Tensions In South China Sea

The United States is in talks to increase the presence of long-range bombers in northern Australia as concerns over China’s military expansion grow in the Asia-Pacific region, local media reported Wednesday. Although Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne acknowledged that the U.S. Air Force will have larger presence in the country, she refused to comment on the deployment of the bombers.

High-level discussions are in progress with Australia to have U.S. B-1 bombers temporarily deployed in the country’s Northern Territory, Gen. Lori Robinson, the commander of the Pacific Air Forces, said, according to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). Robinson said discussions were underway to rotate U.S. bombers through the northern Australian air force bases at Darwin and Tindal.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Australia's Prime Minister is downplaying these reports .... Malcolm Turnbull will not confirm US bomber plans, highlights close relationship with Washington (ABC News Online). More here .... Turnbull plays down US bomber visits (The Australian).

More News On Reports That The U.S. Wants To Base B-1 And B-52 Bombers In Australia

US reportedly considering stationing B-1 bombers in Australia, conducting more B-52 missions -- FOX News
U.S. says in talks to base long-range bombers in Australia -- Reuters
US in talks to base long-range bombers in Australia -- AFP
The U.S. Could Station Long-Range Bombers in Australia -- Time
Australia in talks to host US bombers -- news.com.au
US to rotate long-range bombers through Australia -- The Telegraph
U.S. Air Force Seeks to Enlarge Australian Footprint -- WSJ
Asia pivot: Aussies may host US long-range bombers, incl. nuclear-capable B-1 -- RT
China 'concerned' over US, Australia bomber talks -- SBS

U.S. B-1 Bombers Will Not Be Deployed To Australia To Deter Beijing's South China Sea Ambitions

The US B-1 Bomber will not be immediately based in Australia. Photo: Supplied

The Guardian: Tony Abbott says US defence official 'misspoke' on B-1 bombers in Australia

David Shear had told US Senate committee the US would be ‘placing additional airforce assets in Australia, including B-1 bombers and surveillance aircraft’

A senior United States defence official “misspoke” when he told a US Senate committee the country planned to station B-1 bombers in Australia, Tony Abbott has said.

US Defence Department assistant secretary for Asian and Pacific security affairs, David Shear, told the committee the US “will be placing additional airforce assets in Australia as well, including B-1 bombers and surveillance aircraft”. He said more marines would be deployed to the Asia-Pacific region, including Australia, as the US tries to assert its dominance against an increasingly powerful China.

Update #1: U.S. official misspoke on deployment of bombers to Australia -PM Abbott -- Reuters
Update #2: US official misspoke on B-1 bombers being based in Australia: Tony Abbott -- Sydney Morning Herald

WNU Editor: Misspoke?!?!?!?!

The U.S. Navy Wants A Naval Base In Australia

Image from The Washington Post. By Laris Karklis/The Washington Post.

Bloomberg: U.S. Navy Considers Setting Up Ship Base in Australia

The U.S. is in talks with Australia about “basing” Navy vessels in its main South Pacific ally, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert said, a move that would risk inflaming tensions with China.

WNU Editor: This is just the continuation of a growing U.S. - Australia military alliance.

More News On The U.S. Navy Wanting A Naval Base In Australia

US Marines will be ‘all hands on deck in regional crisis’ -- The Australian
US Navy may base ships in Australia, admiral says -- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia Eyed To Permanently Host US Navy Warships – US Admiral -- IBTimes
U.S. Considering Warship Presence in Australia -- WSJ
The U.S. military is considering docking warships in Australia on a regular basis -- Business Insider
US could permanently base warships in Australia – admiral -- RT
US May Base Warships in Australia -- The Diplomat

U.S. And Australian War Games - Talisman Saber 2013

Hat Tip: Theo Spark

U.S. Jets Dropped Bombs On The Great Barrier Reef

US Jets Dropped Bombs On Great Barrier Reef -- BBC

US fighter jets dropped inert bombs on the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's coast during a training exercise that went wrong, it has emerged.

The two planes jettisoned four bombs in more than 50m (165 ft) of water, away from coral, to minimise damage to the World Heritage Site, the US navy said.

The jets had intended to drop at a bombing range on a nearby island, but Tuesday's mission was aborted.

The AV-8B Harriers were low on fuel and could not land loaded, the navy added.

The emergency happened during the training exercise Talisman Saber, involving US and Australian military personnel.

The two jets had been instructed to target the bombing range on Townshend Island.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Fighter Jets Dropping Unarmed Bombs On The Barrier Reef

Emergency forced jets to drop 4 unarmed bombs on Great Barrier Reef: US officials -- NBC
U.S. drops unarmed bombs on Great Barrier Reef -- USA Today
U.S. military jettisons bombs near Australia's Great Barrier Reef -- CNN
The US military says four unarmed bombs dropped on the reef won't hurt the natural wonder -- News.com.au
US Marine Harrier jets forced to drop unarmed bombs on heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef -- The Australian
Bombs dropped on reef 'minimal risk': ADF -- Sydney Morning Herald
Navy to recover bombs -- The Age
Greens angry after US jets drop bombs on Great Barrier Reef Marine Park during Talisman Sabre exercise -- ABC News (Australia)

Australia To Host Key US Space Surveillance Systems

Australia Agrees To Host Key US Space Surveillance Systems -- Voice of America

The United States has reached an agreement to station a powerful radar and space telescope in Australia, providing what U.S. officials say is a key ability to monitor the skies of the Asia-Pacific.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the agreement reached Wednesday at an annual security summit in Australia is a “major leap forward” and an “important new frontier” in the United States' rebalance to the Asia-Pacific.

The deal calls for a ground-based U.S. Air Force radar to be based in northwest Australia beginning in 2014. A Defense Department statement says it will help track “high-interest space launches in Asia.”

Read more ....

More News On Australia Agreeing To Host Key US Space Surveillance Systems

U.S. to Locate Key Space Systems in Australia -- US Department of Defense
US and Australia agree on space surveillance radar -- BBC
Australia to host 2 US space surveillance systems -- CBS/AP
US to station powerful radar, space telescope in Australia -- Space Daily/AFP
U.S., Australia Bolster Defense Ties With New Space Radar -- Defense News/AFP
U.S. military space systems for Australia -- UPI
US strengthens military presence in Australia -- Deutsche Welle
Australia to Host U.S. Debris-Monitoring Telescope -- Wall Street Journal
Analysts: US Radar in Australia Could Antagonize China -- Voice of America
Space cooperation with Australia the latest sign of US pivot toward Asia -- Rod McGuirk, Christian Science Monitor/AP

Here Comes The Marines

Keeping An Eye On China? First US Marines Arrive In Australia. -- Christian Science Monitor

The US is sending 2,500 Marines to Australia – officially to train with troops there and assist in humanitarian efforts. But many experts and diplomats say the real focus is China.

A contingent of some 200 US Marines have landed in northern Australia, part of a broader strategic shift by the US military toward the Pacific.

That force size is expected to grow to 2,500 total US troops in the months to come.

The move has been widely interpreted as a signal to China, with its rising military force helmed by commanders who are often less-than-transparent in their intentions, Pentagon officials often complain.

Read more ....

More News On The First Deployment Of US Marines To Australia

US Marines Arrive in Australia -- Voice of America
As Part of New Pact, U.S. Marines Arrive in Australia -- New York Times
First Marines in Australia as U.S. ramps up Asia-Pacific focus -- Reuters
First contingent of 200 US Marines arrives in Darwin -- BBC
First 200 US Marines Land at Aussie Training Hub -- ABC News/AP
First 200 Marines arrive in Australia for Asia mission -- Washington Times
First deployment of US troops arrives in Australia -- The National
First US Marines arrive in Australia -- AFP
U.S. Marines Arrive in Australia as Asia-Pacific Presence Raised -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Australia welcomes US marines to Darwin -- Sydney Morning Herald
Debate over direction as US marines march into Darwin -- Daniel Flitton, Sydney Morning Herald