Australia PM Tony Abbott Refutes Report Of US B-1 Bombers Heading To Australia

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has refuted an earlier statement about the U.S. sending its B-1 bombers to Australia to counter the increasing dominance of China. A senior U.S. defence official “misspoke” when he previously told a U.S. Senate committee that the government is planning to station B-1 bombers in Australia.

David Shear, the assistant secretary for the U.S. Defence Department’s Asian and Pacific security affairs, told the committee that the U.S. “will be placing additional airforce assets in Australia as well, including B-1 bombers and surveillance aircraft.” He also added that more marines will be sent to the Asia-Pacific region as the U.S. tries to counter the rising military power of China.

Shear said the U.S. plans to have a “very strong presence” in the region to ensure its commitment to allies and maintain peace and stability. However, Mr Abbott said the information about the B-1 bombers heading to Australia was inaccurate, reports Reuters.

“I’ve sought some information about the testimony provided in Washington by an official. I understand that the official misspoke and that the U.S. does not have any plans to base those aircraft in Australia,” said the prime minister. He added that the U.S. and Australia have an alliance as a “force of stability” and it is not directed at anyone.

According to a spokesman for Australian defence minister Kevin Andrews, the defence agreement between Australia and the U.S. does not allow U.S. based to be established in the country. U.S. troops can be based in the Northern Territory for only 6-month-period.

U.S. defence officials hade previously planned to expand U.S. interests in the region but the plan did not materialise. However, B-52 bombers were allowed to fly in Australian airspace for training exercises in April. U.S. B-52 bombers have been temporarily deployed to Darwin for military drills in 2012 and late 2014 s part of the joint Force Posture Initiative between former prime minister Julia Gillard and U.S. President Barack Obama in 2011, reports SMH.

Brendan O’Connor, from the U.S. Studies Centre at Sydney University, said the strategic relationship between Australia and the U.S. has grown beyond the 2011 agreement. He told ABC that the prominence of U.S. troops in Australia was something the country has to think about. O’Connor believes the Chinese are “savvy enough” to know that Australia wants to maintain good relations with both the U.S. and China.

(To report problems or leave feedback on this article, contact: r.su@ibtimes.com.au)