Beijing worried that defence plan could curb power

force to slash defence spending, was flagged late last year and is a clear sign of US commitment to the region.

But Beijing is concerned that Washington’s new defence posture, as it turns away from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is aimed at encircling China and could hobble its growing power.

Australia, a close US military ally and already engaged in an A$65 billion (R544bn) defence build-up, said the rebalancing of US forces to Asia should not threaten China, or Australia’s A$113bn two-way trade relationship with Beijing. “The American position is very sophisticated and it’s sophisticated in directions we’d encourage.

“It’s not a containment strategy,” Australia’s Washington ambassador, former defence minister Kim Beazley, told Australian radio.

Obama unveiled the new strategy yesterday.

Washington has said it will seek to work with China to ensure economic prosperity and security in the region, but would continue to raise security issues such as the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion (R40 trillion) in trade sails annually.

The disputed ownership of the oil-rich reefs and islands in the South China Sea is one of the biggest security threats in Asia.

The sea is claimed wholly or in part by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei.

China is seen as increasingly assertive on the high seas.

There is also growing concern in the US and Asia at China’s military developments in recent years, both in the size of its force and its capabilities, said security analyst Ross Babbage at Australia’s Kokoda Foundation. – Reuters