POLITICAL NEWS_ Debate over direction as US marines march into Darwin

Debate over direction as US marines march into Darwin
April 5, 2012
Daniel Flitton
Senior correspondent
THE AGE


The first rotation of 200 marines arrives at Darwin's Robertson Barracks for a six-month training rotation. Photo: Glenn Campbell

AMERICAN troops have landed in Darwin to handshakes from Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith and a welcome parade.

But the government seems unable to decide whether America belongs in the region - switching again from promising an ''Asian century'' back to an ''Asia-Pacific'' one.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard last year commissioned a strategic blueprint to be known as the ''Australia in the Asian Century'' white paper, changing the language from Labor's 2009 defence white paper ''Defending Australia in the Asia-Pacific Century'', a phrase that links the US to the region.

The US was more explicit. On the eve of President Barack Obama's visit last year, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said: ''The 21st century will be America's Pacific century.''

Defence expert Professor Hugh White said the phrase ''Asia-Pacific'' makes the United States central to Asia's future, while ''Asian century'' leaves that question open.

And China responded coolly to the announcement last November that US marines would be based in Australia for six months of the year.

Mr Smith yesterday switched back to the old formula, saying a review of Australia's military standing ''points to the Asia-Pacific Century as reinforcing the need for a force posture that can support operations in Australia's northern and western approaches,'' he said.

''Some people seem to somehow assume that because we see the rise of China and the rise of India, the United States is somehow going away. It is not. The United States will continue to be a singular seminal influence in the Asia-Pacific,'' Mr Smith said.

He said the greatest threat in the was not sensibly adjusting to the changing strategic circumstances.

The US marines from Hawaii are the first to arrive under arrangements that will eventually position 2500 American troops in the Northern Territory.



Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/debate-over-direction-as-us-marines-march-into-darwin-20120404-1wd6w.html#ixzz1r7geeUrX



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