Barack Obama backs Australia, NZ and others. Hooray for President Obama. It seems a much better idea to be based in Australia than in Iraq or Afghanistan which are NOT culturally attuned to USA/Oz/NZ/Singapore values. < nzherald.co.nz In moves that have drawn sharp criticism from China and Indonesia, Obama has boosted the presence of US forces in Australia and said yesterday that ship visits and training would be increased in the Philippines and Singapore, and co-operation boosted with Vietnam and Cambodia. ... continued... >
If Australia was nabbed by Indonesia, Islamic Jihad would enjoy quite a coup. China has designs on the water around China and the submarine resources. Those are disputed. They also have designs on Taiwan. They also backed the Evil-Doers of North Korea and still do. A lot of countries can reasonably be disconcerted by China's growing power.
Australia sells a LOT to China so any disruption to that trade would be highly undesirable for both China and Australia.
< "With most of the world's nuclear powers and nearly half of humanity, this region will largely define whether the century ahead will be marked by conflict or co-operation, needless suffering or human progress. As President, I've therefore made a deliberate and strategic decision - as a Pacific nation, the US will play a larger and long-term role in shaping this region and its future, by upholding core principles and in close partnership with allies and friends ...
"As we end today's wars, I have directed my national security team to make our presence and missions in the Asia Pacific a top priority. As a result, reductions in US defence spending will not - I repeat, will not - come at the expense of the Asia Pacific."
Beyond security, Obama said the regional focus had two other threads: prosperity and the upholding of fundamental human rights. >
But as a USA taxpayer, I'm more inclined to support Ron Paul who would tell Australia to use their income from China's purchases to arrange their own defence. But if Australia is willing to host USA forces, it makes sense to keep some there instead of all the way back in San Diego. As China points out, if the USA attacks China's interests - such as stopping an invasion of Taiwan, or annexation of the sea around China, then Australia would be caught up in the cross fire. But Australia likely backs the same ideas on Taiwan and other issues as the USA [give or take some]. So birds of a feather.
Mqurice |
