South East Asia key front WWIII, U.S. seeks greater access to Aussie training facilities.
Actors are taking the stage.
The Chinese want Tonga possibly for its location to American Samoa. #msg-3378078
The United States is trying for control of the Strait of Malacca. US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said during a visit to Singapore that he hoped to have US troops fighting terrorism in Southeast Asia "pretty soon". His comments fuelled speculation that the United States wants to deploy US forces in the Strait of Malacca, the narrow and busy shipping lane straddled by Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore that is seen as a likely terrorist target. More than one million tonnes of oil a year -- well over 80 percent of China's imports -- are shipped through the narrow strait. #msg-3404130
In the past week, the Chinese press has slammed the US military exercises, with the leading People's Daily outlining a perceived US plan to build up a line of defense in the Western Pacific that starts with Japan and extends down China's coastline through Taiwan and the Philippines. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/07/12/2003178661 #msg-3486693
US to train at three key bases From AAP July 08, 2004 THREE major defence training bases will be upgraded under plans to allow US forces greater access to Australian training facilities, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today.
Speaking at a media conference following the annual Australia-US ministerial talks (AUSMIN) in Washington, Senator Hill said work would need to be carried out at bases in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
"That will mean us enhancing a number of our ranges, in particular the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, the Delamere air range in the Northern Territory and also the new Bradshaw range in the Northern Territory," he said.
US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld told the media conference Australia and the US were moving ahead on some key initiatives.
"We have signed a memorandum of understanding pledging to work together on developing a system to defend our respective countries from missile attack," he said.
"The goal is to ensure that our nations against are able to deter and defend against countries that have access to ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction."
The AUSMIN communique reaffirms the strong bilateral defence relations between the US and Australia and cites the importance of interoperability between US and Australian forces.
"Both welcome and agreed to further development of the proposed Joint Combined Training Centre," the statement said.
The communique welcomed the conclusion of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in missile defence and agreed on the need to move quickly to develop a program of cooperation.
It also reaffirms a commitment to work together with the Iraqi people to build a stable and secure Iraq.
On the campaign against terrorism, the Australia and the US agreed that South East Asia was a key front, affirming the importance of working with regional governments against a common threat.
China military to surpass Taiwan By John Kerin July 12, 2004 CHINA would have military superiority over Taiwan by next year, further raising temperatures over Taipei's push for independence and threatening stability, Labor foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd warned last night.
Mr Rudd -- who has just returned from a trip to China, where he discussed Taiwan and North Korea with Chinese officials -- said that in discussions with "lower level officials" he had been told that "China will by next year have the military superiority to successfully engage Taiwan".
Mr Rudd told The Australian the comments were "extremely worrying" and that he was calling on the federal Government to increase diplomatic pressure on Taiwan to desist from any push for independence.
Taiwan has resumed its incremental push in the wake of the re-election of pro-independence President Chen Shui-bian.
Mr Rudd said he understood that Mr Chen's timetable for reform of the Taiwanese constitution by 2006 could include "language which could change Taiwan's official status".
"Such a move would be regarded as a red-line matter in Beijing ... a red line that Australia should spare no effort ensuring is not crossed," he said.
The US would go to Taiwan's aid in the event of any conflict and would expect Australia to support it.
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