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“China will monitor whatever the U.S.
does and it would prefer that the United
States not work with the Asian
countries included in these exercises,”
said Euan Graham, director of the
international security programme at
Australian think tank the Lowy
Institute.
“Beijing would like to deal one-on-one
with Southeast Asia nations that have
counter claims,” he said.
The U.S. Marines will also bring
additional military equipment,
including helicopters and F-18 jets,
Payne said.
The military deployment also threatens
to further weaken Australia-Chinese
relations.
Australia, a staunch U.S. ally with no
claim to the South China Sea, has long
maintained its neutrality in the dispute
to protect its economic relationship
with China.
But bilateral relations have soured in
recent months after Australian Prime
Minister Malcolm Turnbull said China
was improperly interfering in
Canberra’s affairs, an accusation that
triggered a rare protest from Beijing.
Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by
Paul Tait