Australia and a top U.S. military official expressed concern Thursday that China’s rapid military buildup and use of a missile in space could
add to instability in the Asia-Pacific, and backed a greater role for Japan in regional security.
Releasing his government’s first defense policy update since 2005, Prime Minister John Howard said China’s economic rise was good for the world, but added a caution
that it was also a pivotal player in several tense issues in the region.
“The pace and scope of its military modernization, particularly the development of new and disruptive capabilities such as the anti-satellite missile, could create misunderstandings and instability in the region,” the policy report said.
The policy brings Canberra closely into line with Washington, which has expressed similar concerns about China’s military expansion. The two are already close allies, with a defense pact and Australian contributions to U.S.-led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Separately Thursday, the commander of the United States’ Japan-based naval battle group voiced Washington’s concern about China rapid military expansion.
“Certainly we are a bit wary of China,” Rear Adm. Rick Wren, the commander of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk’s battle group, told The Associated Press. “They seem
to be fairly opaque in communicating what they intend to do with this large military buildup.”
Wren, speaking aboard the carrier as it came into Sydney Harbor for a port visit, said the United States wants China to become a stabilizing force in Asia.
“Certainly we need them to be a stabilizing force in this region,” he said. “But until we can actually define that, we will continue to practice our skills and be ready for
whatever the president calls on us to do.”
More than 5,000 U.S. sailors were due to take shore leave in Sydney after completing the Talisman Saber exercises, a biennial event that this year pitted 20,000 U.S. troops and
7,500 Australian forces and dozens of ships and planes against fictional enemies in a variety of land and sea-based scenarios off Australia’s northeastern coast.
Japan took part in the Talisman Saber exercises as an observer, and Wren said Japan would take a “much bigger” role in future exercises. He did not elaborate.
“The importance of multilateral alliance in this theater is very important,” Wren said. “What we both want to do is expand that in the interest of creating a stronger and
long-lasting regional stability, and so we are bringing in many other nations.”
Cooperation could include non-combat roles such as disaster relief and other humanitarian operations, he said.
The Australian policy document said cooperation between Australia, Japan and the United States would become increasingly important in maintaining stability in Asia,
and noted “Australia has no closer nor more valuable partner in the region than Japan.”
“Japan’s more active security posture within the U.S. alliance and multinational coalitions is in keeping with its economic and diplomatic weight,” it said.
Howard said China’s economic rise was good for the world, but that “U.S.-China relations, China-Japan tensions and long-standing flash points in Taiwan and the Korean
peninsula will require continuing careful management.”
The report said mishandling tensions between Taiwan and China could have “disastrous consequences for the region.”
The United States and Japan are stepping up efforts to build a joint missile defense system in Asia, partly as a bulwark against regional threats such as a nuclear-armed
North Korea. Australia, a steadfast U.S. ally that has about 2,000 troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, is studying whether to participate in the defense shield.
Australia and Japan signed a security agreement in March that will enable Japanese forces to train alongside Australians for disaster relief and peacekeeping missions,
and boost cooperation between the two countries in counterterrorism measures and intelligence sharing.
