[SeijiSensei]

Originally Posted by Marcus H.

Why Australia? There are much closer countries to China than Down Under.

http://time.com/3102616/us-military-presence-australia/

August 12, 2014

The United States will be finalizing an agreement to increase its military presence in Australia in an attempt to bolster its ties with allies in the Asia-Pacific, where China has been flexing its muscles, Reuters reported Tuesday.

The negotiations will conclude an agreement made between Australia Prime Minister Tony Abbott and U.S. President Barack Obama in June.

At the annual AUSMIN talks between U.S. and Australian defense leaders this week, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel will discuss a proposal to add more fighter jets and bombers to a military base near the northern Australian city of Darwin, Reuters said.

We also have this today: http://news.yahoo.com/japan-join-u-a...210302030.html