The US is planning to construct further military infrastructure in Australia, when the Congress gives approval to the US Navy to be allocated $211.5 million, according to the Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
As Reuters reports, the plans aim to create a bigger US presence in Australia, ahead of increasing concerns about China’s efforts to increase its influence in the Pacific.
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Such infrastructure will support the Force Posture Initiatives, Mr. Payne said to Sky News. The initiative regard an agreement between the US and Australia to improve their defense relationship. They include 2,500 US Marines training in Australia each year, and regular joint training between the allies’ air forces.
However, Mr. Payne did not reveal what military infrastructure the US aims to build, with Australian media reporting that the US wants to build a new port facility near Darwin.
If such a plan takes place, then the port that will be built in Darwin, will located near the Port of Darwin, which China’s Landbridge Group Co secured a 99-year lease over in 2015.
Relationships between the US and China have gotten worse since the election of Donald Trump, who launched a trade war, and increased military exercises in the Asia-Pacific area.
