Australia and China

choi

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(1) Greg Sheridan, Trade and Defence: Our China line. The Australian, June 25, 2011 (availble now).
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/trade-and-defence-our-china-line/story-e6frg6ux-1226081595229.

Quote:

"China is the strategic shadow that looms over everything today. There is a China dimension behind US President Barack Obama's decision to pull out of Afghanistan more quickly than his generals want. Ever since he was elected, Obama has wanted to pivot away from the endless miseries of the Middle East and Central Asia and focus more on the Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean, where the US's economic and national interests are centrally engaged, and the China challenge presents itself most strongly.

"Eventually it should mean home porting one or more US warships in northern Australia, as well as perhaps joint facilities, and in the longer term the basing of some US forces in northern Australia. This is all some way off, but is the logical conclusion of the process. It, too, is driven by the vulnerability to attack by China's massively expanding military forces of the US bases in Okinawa and Guam.

"Des Ball[, an academic,] notes that China now deploys the largest fleet of attack submarines in the world. Australia's premier strategic analyst, Ross Babbage, has written of the fact that China has commissioned more than 40 new subs since 1995, and has nearly 500 fourth-generation fighter-bombers now in service. * * * It is also worth noting that never in human history has a navy fleet as big as China's been built but not used in battle.


(2) Brendan Nicholson, Planners Make the Case for US Bases. The Australian, June 25, 2011 (availble now).
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/planners-make-the-case-for-us-bases/story-fn59niix-1226080870943

Quote:

Associate professor Toshi Yoshihara of US Naval War College was cited as saying "while war between the US and China was far from inevitable, if it happened it was likely to involve barrages of missiles designed to knock out US bases and aircraft carrier battle groups. Retaliatory strikes would be spearheaded by US ballistic missile submarines. Yoshihara said US facilities in Guam and other relatively close bases could be knocked out early in such a war so it would suit US planners well to have the submarines come to WA for replacement missiles and other supplies.

The paper by Yoshihara and his colleague James Holmes said "that while Singapore appears ideally placed for US strategic purposes, its harbour is too shallow to allow big aircraft carriers to berth at piers. 'In addition, the city-state also lies within easy striking reach of Chinese ballistic missiles, meaning that a fleet stationed there would be exposed to pre-emptive attack in port.'

Note:
(a) This is a commentary following the release of Defence Force Posture Review, by Australia's defence minister this week.
(b) The commentary says, "Afghanistan is costing Washington $US120 billion ($114bn) a year."

$114bn is Australian dollar.
(c) The writer states Southeast Asians "are cleaving close to the US, and close to us as well."

cleave (vi): "to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly"
All definitions are from www.m-w.com, except otherwise noted.

Please take notice its etymology and past tense, past participle is distinct from another verb of the same spelling that means "split."

(d) Darwin, Northern Territory
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin,_Northern_Territory
(capital of Northern Territory)
(e) Pilbara
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilbara
(iron ore)
(f) dissemble (vi): "to put on a false appearance : conceal facts, intentions, or feelings under some pretense"
(g) The writer says, "It won't compromise on the US alliance and builds up its own military capacities, and solidifies the position of the US in the region, to cope with the possible difficulties if China should ever cut up rough.

"cut up nasty/rough  BRITISH INFORMAL OLD-FASHION  to become angry, threatening, or violent  <When Steve cut up rough, she realized she’d gone too far.>"
cut up. MacMillan Dictionary.
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/cut-up
(h) Kokoda Foundation
http://www.kokodafoundation.org/History-of-Kokoda

Quote:

"For the benefit of any readers who are unfamiliar with Australia’s history during the Second World War, the name derives from the campaign that was conducted in Papua New Guinea in and around the village of Kokoda following the Japanese landing on the northern coast of that island. The Japanese force soon advanced past Kokoda and along a narrow track across the Owen Stanley Range in an attempt to capture Port Moresby. From Port Moresby the Japanese would have had a springboard for subsequent operations into northern Australia. The allied high command realised that the Japanese had to be stopped and forced back and this was done by a relatively small number of Australian troops and in atrocious conditions. This Kokoda campaign was arguably the most difficult campaign for Australia during the Second World War. It was also a campaign that Australians simply could not afford to lose.

"And so it was that a decision was taken to call this new organisation, the Kokoda Foundation. This was to be a foundation that researched the most difficult security challenges Australia faces for the future. The aim was to focus its primary research efforts on the security challenges that Australia simply could not afford to get wrong.

Kokoda
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kokoda
(it was the site of a number of significant engagements between the Japanese and Australian forces, and was captured and recaptured several times before the final Australian victory)




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