Canberra/Washington: To restrict Chinese activities in the South China Sea, the United States has increased its focus on the defence preparedness in the Indo-Pacific region. As a part of this initiative, the United States has drawn up a plan to expand its naval base in the Darwin region, in Australia. It has been revealed through a proposal presented to the US Congress, that a provision of $210 million has been made, for this purpose. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne confirmed the report.
China has intensified its activities, in the Indo-Pacific sector, after building 100 artificial islands and militarising 20 of them. China announced building a Deep Water Port or a Deep Water site, in the Indo-Pacific region. It has been revealed that China is building a Deep Water Port in Cambodia, in southeast Asia. At the same time, China has indicated setting up of military bases in Australia’s neighbouring countries like Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
Against this background, now, the United States and Australia have initiated moves to expand the military cooperation, further. Last year, US Vice President Mike Pence had declared assistance to Australia for building a new naval base, in the Pacific region. But now, the United States seems to be augmenting its defence preparedness in the region, by expanding its base in Australia.
The United States uses nearly five Australian bases, under the defence cooperation agreement. They include ‘Allice Spring’ and ‘Top End’ bases, used exclusively by the United States. Last year, the United States deployed 1,500 marines at the Top End base.
Other than the Darwin base, there is a proposal to expand the Geraldton base too. This increased defence deployment in Australia is considered to be a part of the aggressive policies in the region. Under this policy, the United States will be expanding the Guam base and also its bases in Japan.
Australia announced that it would be developing a naval base on the Manus island near Papua New Guinea. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison made this announcement.
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