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Obama says U.S. to base 2,500 Marines in Australia, rankling China

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Obama should create jobs in non-military field also.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

Kennedy tried that. Look what happened to him, and his brother. The US military budget eats some 43% of total tax revenue and personifies the ideal of being "too big to fail".

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Is this another US government plan to keep the rogue Iranian missile out of Europe?

Im sure it must be.. :-)

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

You see China must understand that America is it's only true friend in this world!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

so much for jobs for americans, lets welcome the cold war 2

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

China is not so wrankled up that they're gonna withold campaign cash for Obama's re- election fund so what is there to worry about.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Good to see this has finally happened, it has been talked about and suggested for quite a while. Given the regions instability, terrorism in Indonesia, and the areas around China this isnt such a bad thing for Australia's security. Interesting response by China though that stationing troops in Australia is not appropriate or in Australia's best interests. Well China given its Australia's decision and it is Australia why dont you just butt out and mind your own business.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Spidapig24Nov. 17, 2011 - 09:16AM JST. Interesting response by China though that stationing troops in Australia is not appropriate or in Australia's best interests. Well China given its Australia's decision and it is Australia why dont you just butt out and mind your own business.

Why don't Australia tell them to butt out? Reason is that China is the largest trade partner with Australia. China is a largest buyer in iron ore from Australia and they buy more than a quarter of Australian exports, having overtaken Japan as their largest trading partner in 2009. Australia might have trade problem.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

China is more a threat that the media, corporates and others wish us to know and believe. If you live in Asia already you know that they bully neighboring countries, launch cyber attacks and engage in unreasonable practices in the region.

If you are a rational Chinese citizen, you know that they suppress freedom, repress political, religious and ideological movements and you know that they carry our considerable acts of inhumanity against their own people.

Until these things change, China cannot be trusted. And given a choice between influence from the US and influence from China is APAC, give me the US any day. At least we can speak our minds under US influence. Just try that against China.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

So you can now expect Darwin to go the same way as any other area close to where american millitary are stationed, down hill. Drunk fighting out of line young soldiers running round causing trouble. See it all the time around Machida with the Zama, and Atsugi guys drinking up large casuing trouble and can only imagine what it would be like in okinawa.

Itaewon was rampart with millitary dick heads when i was there, the door men/security on some clubs have to wear stab proof vests and carry extendable night sticks to be able to deal with the drunk millitary.

Seriously the top brass need to get ontop of these young drunk fools and instill some respect into them off base.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

It will be interesting to see what China does since it is now the second largest economy in the world. With its economic influence and growing military power its neighbors have every right to be nervous.

I am curious about the public opinion in Darwin on having US marines as neighbors. Also not sure how this will impact Prime Minister Gillard's political clout with the Australian public. Foreign Minister Rudd's job just received another layer of complexity.

As for President Obama he has displayed a curious hawkishness on foreign policy. I suspect he is trying to take away some thunder from his Republican opponents in the upcoming election in 2012. Secretary of State Clinton has turned out to be a rather good choice with her soft but firm diplomacy to balance out the team.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Is there going to be an "Australian Missile Crisis", and China blockades the entire continent of Australia?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

cactusJack, "Is there going to be an "Australian Missile Crisis", and China blockades the entire continent of Australia?"

The Chinese Navy is no match for the US Navy, then add the Australian Navy. The Chinese Navy would be doomed, any ships that engage will be sunk, 12 aircraft carrier groups to an empty shell of a Russian one. Sir the Chinese can not hope to blockade Australia.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The US-Australian alliances does have 'satellites' in space? Do they?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

After the defeats in Iraq and afghanistan, the' face' of US armed forces were totally lost,terribley humilated and a huge group of frustrated veterans seeking for jobs! Does anyone remember the south Korean frigate ROKS Cheonan sunken last year? North Korea doesnt have to pay a price over that! Because China has made stern warning of 'consequences'!The deployment of US marines to Darwin was nothing a stragetic deployment but face saving and of course saving their own shattered 'influences' !If you have a ruler measure the distance apart from south China sea or the Korean peninsula then you have got a clue whats going on!

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

So you can now expect Darwin to go the same way as any other area close to where american millitary are stationed, down hill.

Um, I'd be a little wary of the annoying the locals to be honest.

Any hostile action taken against Australia is not going to be the same as fighting members of the local population as in Iraq or Afganistan. It would be in plain sight and not pretty for either side. Let's hope it never happens.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

there are many bases in japan and it is closer to china so what is the fuzz about???

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Denis Bauer: Bases in Korea , Japan, Okinawa were within China's cruise missles range!

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

@GG

The US military budget eats some 43% of total tax revenue and personifies the ideal of being "too big to fail".

I don't downvote people because I disagree with them, but I'm downvoting you for gross factual mispresentation.

The US military budget is 17% of tax revenue. Also, the idea of "too big to fail" is absurd when applied to the public sector. Perhaps you meant that American local economies are overly dependent on and beholden to military spending.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The Chinese Navy is no match for the US Navy, then add the Australian Navy. The Chinese Navy would be doomed, any ships that engage will be sunk, 12 aircraft carrier groups to an empty shell of a Russian one. Sir the Chinese can not hope to blockade Australia.

It is true that China is inferior in military and technology. I do not think China is interested in Australia coasts. Her main interest is Taiwan Another one is disputed islands of south china sea.

In the reality, both US and Australia are depending on China finance for expanding their navy. For instance US needs huge finance for research and development such as building aircraft carriers and ultrasonic fighter jets. That huge amount of money was borrowed from China by selling bonds. Australia is selling iron ore and natural gas to China for modernizing her navy and air force too.

If China replace Brazil or Africa as commodity supplier, Australia has no disposable income for advancing her arm forces. At the end money talk! China can afford to buy Tasmania from Australia. It also afford to buy Alaska from US too.

According the history, Russia got broke in 1980s because of unsustainable military expansion. US got broke in 2008 because of wall street bankers and two pro long wars. Australia will be broke if it is expanding her military like US or Russia. As a small nation and limited population, her GDP is very limited.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

On reflection I have to eat crow and apologize to GG.

He was still wrong, but military spending is closer to 25-36% of revenue.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I fail to see how not being next to Sydney or Melbourne means it isnt Australia. I also fail to see why China feels it can say anything about it-so while I have to mention China when we are talking Australia and America let me just question why China feels their One Child Policy is not aggravating the region?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If the Chinese government was more like it was in its golden era of the19 60 's and the 1970's I think Presidente Obama would feel closer to them.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"rankling China"

And embarrassing Okinawa?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

What a stupid and costly way to get rid of the Futenma Air Fcility on Okinawa

0 ( +0 / -0 )

SamuraiBlue, you mean China will claim both poles? Anyhow am not sure why the Chinese are upset over 2.5 k American troops thousands of kilometers from their nearest claim. There are lots of other things American that should upset them. However the Americans have a lot invested in China. Why would they want to blow up their own factories?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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