China concerned by US military buildup in Australia

US Troops in Australia

China has expressed concern at the US decision to ramp up its military presence in the region by establishing a special naval task force to support its troops based in Darwin.

A technical “amphibious lift” group will be in place by 2018, possibly in Guam, to help the US mobilise its Australia-based troops quickly in an emergency.

The decision was interpreted by some Australian defence analysts as the next step of the US’s goal to “pivot” its defence capabilities towards the Asia-Pacific region over the next decade.

In China, analysts said the decision could further offend the Chinese government, which is still unhappy over Julia Gillard’s 2011 decision to allow US marines to be based in Darwin.

Shanghai Academy of Social Science researcher Li Kaisheng said the build-up of US troops in the region endangered Australia’s political ties with China.

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