Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith dismissed suggestions Sunday that China had been angered by plans for a US troop build-up here, describing its response as moderate and measured. The plan to post some 2,500 Marines in northern Australia by 2016-17 was unveiled by US President Barack Obama during a lightning visit to Canberra last week and immediately labelled “inappropriate” by Beijing. But Smith said the official response had been “quite measured” and said Prime Minister Julia Gillard had “cordial and forward-looking” talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit.
“China, for a long time, has said that it doesn’t believe there should be military alliances, but it understands that Australia has a military alliance with the United States,” Smith told commercial television. “My own judgement is that the response – official response from China – has frankly been a measured one. It hasn’t been over the top. “We continue to make the point publicly and privately to China that there’s no inconsistency between a military alliance… with the United States and a comprehensive bilateral relationship with China.”
