Barak Obama and Julia Gillard

"LandepNews"

Barak Obama and Julia Gillard

The United States president Barak Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard agreed to foster the military cooperation between the two countries, a move that has been deemed as a precaution to the increasing aggressiveness of China, although the president of the United States insisted on saying that his country did not fear China.

Speaking about fearing the rise of China, Obama said that the notion was mistaken, as it was the notion that America wanted to exclude China from the world political issues. He did say though that China must get accustomed that with the status of world power come responsibilities.

In turn, China had a reaction to the announcement saying that the American move deserves greater scrutiny and discussion on its appropriateness.

By the agreement signed between the United States and Australia, announced on Wednesday during a joined press conference, the American troops will have a greater access to the Australian bases, 250 U.S. Marine will be rotated in the northern Australia and an effective of 2,500 troops will be stationed in Australia within several years.

Obama said that this would increase cooperation between the two armies, and will build the capacity of the armies, but was careful to emphasize that no permanent American presence will be established on Australian territory.

Obama is touring the Asia-Pacific countries, and the accord with Julia Gillard is the second stage of this tour, after the hosting of a summit in Honolulu. On Thursday, Obama is expected to address the Australian parliament then he is expected to go to Darwin, the city near which the 2,500 troops will be deployed.

Speaking about the new agreement, US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that the message it conveys is that the US and Australia stand together in face of all potential enemies. Furthermore, the increased American aerial presence in the region will empower Australia to easier respond to humanitarian crises and natural disasters, Julia Gillard said.

There is only a secretive base at Pine Gap, in central Australia, where Americans are now present, in an intelligence and communication complex. Since he arrived to Australia Obama reiterated that America has no stronger ally than Australia. This is his first visit as president to Australia.

Reporting about the agreement, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua insisted upon the economic impact of the visit and on the allegation made by the American president that the Asia-Pacific economies are critical to American recovery and that these economies are expected to become the engine of the world economy.

Speaking of the military agreement itself, Xinhua says that it “reflects American diversified presence in the region.” It also speaks of the long-standing tradition of cooperation between Australia and the United States.

Thank's for link: