U.S. troops in Australia: 'Playing hardball with China'

President Obama renews America's focus on the Asia-Pacific region by promising to send hundreds of Marines Down Under. How will China react?

President Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard
(Image credit: Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

G'day, mates. In an effort to reassert American power in the Asia-Pacific region, the Obama administration announced this week that it is establishing a permanent military presence in Australia. The initial plan is to send 250 Marines to Australian bases, and gradually increase troop strength to 2,500. Foreign policy experts are interpreting the move as part of the administration's ongoing efforts to counter China's rise. But will this really make much of a difference?

Obama is sending a clear message to China: The U.S. and Australia insist this has nothing to do with China, says Peter Hartcher at The Sydney Morning Herald, but "they're being diplomatic." The Marines will be "like a tripwire that an invader would set off," triggering an American military response in defense of an attack against Australia. It's a lot like the U.S. forces that have been based for decades in Japan and South Korea. When it comes to China, the U.S. and Australia are clearly "working for the best, but preparing for the worst." Beijing knows that — and you can bet the Chinese won't be happy.

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