Obama Insists U.S. Does Not Fear China

[Mosaic]

Source: Time

(CANBERRA, Australia) — President Barack Obama insisted Wednesday that the United States does not fear China, even as he announced a new security agreement with Australia that is widely viewed as a response to China's growing aggressiveness.

The agreement, announced during a joint news conference with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, will expand the U.S. military presence in Australia, positioning more U.S. equipment there, and increasing American access to bases. About 250 U.S. Marines with 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.




Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2099580,00.html#ixzz1dsN2qRE7

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This is an outrage, and a provocation to the second biggest economy. I am convinced Obama lets the pentagon boss him around. I am sorry I supported this status quo politician, I will never do so again. This move in Australia is dangerous and will probably start another arms race. I wanted a leader and I got a patsy.

[earthside]

1. Well, I'm worried.

Not worried about China's potential military 'adventurism' ... that's just military-indutrial-lobbyist complex propaganda.

I'm worried that this signals that Pres. Obama will go along with some proposal to take major military budget cuts out of the automatic cuts if the 'super committee' fails.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[emulatorloo]

3. Actual quote: "I think the notion that we fear China is mistaken. The notion that we're looking to e

"I think the notion that we fear China is mistaken. The notion that we're looking to exclude China is mistaken," he said

[ieoeja]

6. So he reached out to China which is the exact opposite of how the OP spins it. nt

[d_legendary1]

4. Looks like

The S.T.A.R.T Treaty is history.

[Chef Eric]

5. No, but it fears peaceful citizens who exercise their first ammendment rights. nt

[BlueToTheBone]

7. Maybe not China, but certainly are afraid of unarmed

peaceful citizens camped out on their doorstep.

[Iliyah]

8. For crying out loud

Prez O and many Dems do supporrt OWS.

Many liberals, moderates, independents, and some conversatives suppport OWS. OWS basically do not want to be labeled as pro Dem and obviously pro Repub, but neutral. Thats something the Prez administration and the Dem party understands. Assault on OWS' is ramping-up and I can assume that its more to do with the 1% than anything else.

If the gopers would get their heads out of the 1% arses and rebuild America, and bring America her to the 21th century, we would be able to bring strenght back to the economy. The 1% needs to pay their fair share of the taxes as well as the corporations. Our people also need to be heathly as well, afforable heath care for all.

Y'think Prez O is afraid of China? Think twice.

[BlueToTheBone]

11. I have no knowledge of his China fears

however, coordinating FBI and HS sure sounds like fear to me. If that's support of OWS, I hate to think what will be done if there's animosity.

[Violet_Crumble]

12. Then why did you post in this thread if you know nothing about it?

I've got no knowledge of OWS, which is why I don't go into threads about it and start talking about US foreign policy in the Asia/Pacific region. Living in that region, I'm concerned by what I heard last night about US plans to turn its attention away from the Middle East to our region. Looking at the total mess and carnage they're responsible for in the Middle East, I think I've got good reason to be concerned...

[alp227]

9. Eyeing China, U.S. Expands Military Ties to Australia

Source: NY Times

President Obama and Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia announced plans on Wednesday for the first sustained American military presence in Australia, a relatively small deployment that is still a major symbol of American intentions to use regional alliances to counterbalance a rising China.

“With my visit to the region I am making it clear that the United States is stepping up its commitment to the entire Asia-Pacific region,” Mr. Obama said at a joint news conference with Ms. Gillard soon after his arrival here in Australia’s capital.

Mr. Obama said the basing agreement “allows us to meet the demands of a lot of partners in the region that want to feel that they’re getting the training, they’re getting the exercises, and that we have the presence that’s necessary to maintain the security architecture in the region.”

“But the second message I’m trying to send is that we are here to stay,” Mr. Obama said. “This is a region of huge strategic importance to us.” He added: “Even as we make a whole host of important fiscal decisions back home, this is right up there at the top of my priority list. And we’re going to make sure that we are able to fulfill our leadership role in the Asia Pacific region.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/17/world/asia/obama-and-gillard-expand-us-australia-military-ties.html

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President Obama and Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia after a joint news conference in Canberra on Wednesday. (Charles Dharapak/Associated Press)

[sarcasmo]

10. Plenty of cash for Empire building, no cash for the people.

[Fool Count]

13. Australia's elites are making a monumental mistake here

hitching their wagon to a waning and decaying power instead of investing into trusting and friendly relationship with China.
Australia owes all of its economic success and stability directly to China, and needs China's market far more than China needs
Australia's minerals, which can be had elsewhere. Even if China did harbor aggressive intent towards Australia (a very farfetched
hypothetical in its own right), US could not and would not defend Australia anyhow. Pissing off China is the surest way of making
Australia less, not more, secure. Add that, together with continuing participation in Afghanistan war, to the list of stupid things
without any conceivable benefit to national interest that Australian government did.