New world order: Australia at heart of power base
By Simon Benson and Patrick Lion
News.com.au
November 18, 2011
Announcing yesterday, during a historic speech to the Australian parliament, that he had already told his national security team to draw up plans, Mr Obama gave his strongest vow to date about more US involvement in our economic zone, The Daily Telegraph reported.
He also promised planned cuts to US defence spending to tackle the country’s debt crisis would not apply to the Asia-Pacific, where existing bases would be strengthened with a greater and more flexible military presence.
The hawkish push into the region was met with a frosty reception from Beijing.
Chinese officials yesterday questioned the US plan, accusing it of “flexing its muscles over the South China Sea issue”.
“The move may not be in the interest of countries in the region,” a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
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