President Obama announced plans to build up American troops in Australia, speaking today in Australia with Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
When asked during the press conference if the troop build up was a reaction to a rising China, Obama insisted that, “the notion that we fear China is mistaken.”
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“I’ve said repeatedly and I will say again today that we welcome a rising, peaceful China.” stated Obama, “What they’ve been able to achieve in terms of lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty over the last two decades has been nothing short of remarkable. And that is good not just for China, but it’s potentially good for the region.”
Obama added that it was important for China to “play by the rules of the road,” and accept the “increasing responsibilities” of being a world power.
According the Associated Press, about 250 U.S. Marines will begin a rotation in northern Australia starting next year, with a full force of 2,500 military personnel staffing up over the next several years.
