US military rapidly building up Australia's northern bases amid South China Sea tensions | ABS-CBN
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US military rapidly building up Australia's northern bases amid South China Sea tensions
Reuters
Published Jul 26, 2024 11:00 AM PHT
The United States military is rapidly constructing in northern Australia to support its forces' ability to project power into the South China Sea in any crisis with China, a Reuters review of tender documents and interviews with US and Australian defense officials shows.
The United States military is rapidly constructing in northern Australia to support its forces' ability to project power into the South China Sea in any crisis with China, a Reuters review of tender documents and interviews with US and Australian defense officials shows.
The projects, due for construction this year and next at RAAF Base Darwin and the inland RAAF Base Tindal, make northern Australia the top overseas location for US air force and navy construction spending under 2024 and 2025 US Congressional Defense Authorizations, totaling over $300 million.
The projects, due for construction this year and next at RAAF Base Darwin and the inland RAAF Base Tindal, make northern Australia the top overseas location for US air force and navy construction spending under 2024 and 2025 US Congressional Defense Authorizations, totaling over $300 million.
Closer to the Philippines than Australia's eastern capital Canberra, Darwin was the only Australian city bombed in World War Two, and has long been a garrison town for the Australian Defense Force and a US Marine Rotational Force that arrives for six months of each year.
Closer to the Philippines than Australia's eastern capital Canberra, Darwin was the only Australian city bombed in World War Two, and has long been a garrison town for the Australian Defense Force and a US Marine Rotational Force that arrives for six months of each year.
It has re-emerged as a strategically vital Indo Pacific base in United States defense planning, officials told Reuters – even as the center-left Labor government of Anthony Albanese maintains a policy of no US bases on Australian soil.
It has re-emerged as a strategically vital Indo Pacific base in United States defense planning, officials told Reuters – even as the center-left Labor government of Anthony Albanese maintains a policy of no US bases on Australian soil.
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RAAF Base Tindal, 200 miles (322 km) south of Darwin was officially opened in 1988. Escaping tropical cyclones, its remoteness also holds security advantages as the home for Australia's F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, and the new long-range surveillance drone, Triton.
RAAF Base Tindal, 200 miles (322 km) south of Darwin was officially opened in 1988. Escaping tropical cyclones, its remoteness also holds security advantages as the home for Australia's F-35A Joint Strike Fighter, and the new long-range surveillance drone, Triton.
Its location is "vitally important", said RAAF Base Tindal Wing Commander Fiona Pearce, with "greater reach into our near region".
Its location is "vitally important", said RAAF Base Tindal Wing Commander Fiona Pearce, with "greater reach into our near region".
Large sections of RAAF Tindal's tarmac are being dug up as part of a US-funded expansion to become "big enough to take any aircraft in the world", she said.
Large sections of RAAF Tindal's tarmac are being dug up as part of a US-funded expansion to become "big enough to take any aircraft in the world", she said.
Australia is spending A$1.5 billion on RAAF Tindal's redevelopment, and by July a new airport terminal, control tower, hangars and accommodation for surge personnel were near completion, Reuters found on a visit to the base. Separate US and Australian bulk jet fuel stores sit side by side.
Australia is spending A$1.5 billion on RAAF Tindal's redevelopment, and by July a new airport terminal, control tower, hangars and accommodation for surge personnel were near completion, Reuters found on a visit to the base. Separate US and Australian bulk jet fuel stores sit side by side.
But the remote location poses challenges in sourcing materials and a workforce, Lendlease Civil Superintendent Clint Cartwright told Reuters.
But the remote location poses challenges in sourcing materials and a workforce, Lendlease Civil Superintendent Clint Cartwright told Reuters.
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A third of residents in the sparsely populated Northern Territory are Indigenous Australians, although they make up just 10 percent of Darwin's population.
A third of residents in the sparsely populated Northern Territory are Indigenous Australians, although they make up just 10 percent of Darwin's population.
Growing demand for defense housing in Darwin has sparked a dispute with Traditional Owners including Tibby Quall, 75, over coastal forest land-clearing, and he says rising prices are pushing Indigenous families out of the city.
Growing demand for defense housing in Darwin has sparked a dispute with Traditional Owners including Tibby Quall, 75, over coastal forest land-clearing, and he says rising prices are pushing Indigenous families out of the city.
A 2011 agreement with Australia for the Marine Corp to train in Darwin on a temporary basis has evolved into a regional deterrence role for some 2000 US Marines who arrive each year, said Commanding Officer of the US Marine Rotational Force, Colonel Brian Mulvihill. War games this month included Philippines and Timor Leste troops.
A 2011 agreement with Australia for the Marine Corp to train in Darwin on a temporary basis has evolved into a regional deterrence role for some 2000 US Marines who arrive each year, said Commanding Officer of the US Marine Rotational Force, Colonel Brian Mulvihill. War games this month included Philippines and Timor Leste troops.
"Darwin is absolutely key terrain for us to help bring stability to the region," he said in an interview at Darwin's Larrakeyah Barracks.
"Darwin is absolutely key terrain for us to help bring stability to the region," he said in an interview at Darwin's Larrakeyah Barracks.
"We are more focused on that interoperability with the Australian Defense Force – how can we project power from northern Australia into the region," he added.
"We are more focused on that interoperability with the Australian Defense Force – how can we project power from northern Australia into the region," he added.
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At RAAF Base Darwin, the US will construct a dedicated tarmac area for the Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey assault support aircraft - used to land troops from a ship.
At RAAF Base Darwin, the US will construct a dedicated tarmac area for the Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey assault support aircraft - used to land troops from a ship.
A US Air Force squadron operations building was awarded for construction in April. The United States is seeking to disperse air power from its largest bases in the Pacific, such as Guam, to reduce vulnerability to a Chinese attack.
A US Air Force squadron operations building was awarded for construction in April. The United States is seeking to disperse air power from its largest bases in the Pacific, such as Guam, to reduce vulnerability to a Chinese attack.
The Australian government recently highlighted its own plans to spend A$14 billion "hardening" the northern bases under the country's biggest defense shakeup since World War Two, as tensions rise in the South China Sea, where two-thirds of Australia's trade transits.
The Australian government recently highlighted its own plans to spend A$14 billion "hardening" the northern bases under the country's biggest defense shakeup since World War Two, as tensions rise in the South China Sea, where two-thirds of Australia's trade transits.
Canberra has drawn closer to its top security ally Washington under the AUKUS (Australia, Britain and the United States) pact to transfer US nuclear submarine technology to Australia next decade. Yet it has been largely silent on the US military construction underway in the north, thousands of miles from Australia's population centers.
Canberra has drawn closer to its top security ally Washington under the AUKUS (Australia, Britain and the United States) pact to transfer US nuclear submarine technology to Australia next decade. Yet it has been largely silent on the US military construction underway in the north, thousands of miles from Australia's population centers.
(Production: Stefica Nicol Bikes)
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