CANBERRA, Australia--A top U.S. Marine Pacific commander has
urged close ally Australia to consider taking on a more visible
regional policing role, saying he would like the country to deploy
large new amphibious warships into the South and East China Seas in
future to help allay security uncertainty caused by a more
assertive China.
Following recent clashes between China and regional neighbors
including Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam in the East and South
China Sea, the deputy commander of the Marines in the Pacific said
U.S. allies and friends in the region were anxious to maintain a
security "status quo" in Asia.
"It is a bad word, but it is very applicable, I think,"
Major-General Richard L. Simcock said in an interview on the
sidelines of a summit on American ties with Australia. Canberra is
currently strengthening its alliance with Washington and in past
years has tried to play a role as America's regional "deputy
sheriff".
"Status quo represents the security, the economic benefits, that
have come to the Asia-Pacific region over the last 70 years.
There's an apprehension to drastic change," Maj-Gen Simcock
said.
Washington and Canberra have criticized Beijing recently for
what they view as strong-arm tactics in spats with other countries
in the region--including Japan--over contested islands in the South
and East China Seas. China has also irked Hanoi by deploying an
oil-drilling platform in disputed waters close to Vietnam.
Following talks in the U.S. last week between President Barack
Obama and Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott, a White House
statement said both countries were looking at fitting new
Australian navy destroyers with missiles capable of shooting down
ballistic missiles used by North Korea and China.
Australia is also building two large amphibious assault carriers
weighing 27,000 tons as part of a military buildup worth US$85
billion over a decade and buying new submarines, stealth fighters
and a larger army. The ships, the first of which is due in service
next year, are the size of small aircraft carriers and will be able
to carry more than 1,000 troops, as well as tanks, helicopters and
aircraft. The country's Defense Minister David Johnston has said
the two carriers may also carry marine versions of F-35 fighter
aircraft.
Canberra is also backing Japan's aim to remove postwar curbs on
military roles beyond self-defense and consider supporting other
Asian nations to counter China's muscle flexing, with military
officials from both countries to hold talks on security with U.S.
representatives in coming months. Both countries are also looking
at sharing submarine technology.
In Australia's case, Prime Minister Tony Abbott's Conservative
government says the build up is needed to protect billions of
dollars worth of oil and gas assets off the country's remote
northwest coast which will likely see the country vie with Qatar to
be the world's top LNG exporter.
American energy company Chevron Corp's Australian unit managing
director Roy Krzywosinski said on Wednesday that the company was
well aware its flagship $54 billion Gorgon liquefied natural gas
project and others under development off Australia's remote
northwest coast could be considered "strategic targets", along with
their produce and the routes and paths they took to customers'.
Maj-Gen Simcock said on Wednesday that he would like Australia
in particular to taper its past reluctance to sending ships north
of neighboring Indonesia on regular patrols, if only to be
available to help with humanitarian disasters.
"Absolutely (we want that)," he said. "The Asia-Pacific region
is too big for any one country, so when countries develop this
amphibious capability that they want, and they are asking us to
help them develop it, it is a win-win for all concerned. It allows
them to address numerous issues."
The U.S., he said, wanted to help both Japan and Australia
develop an amphibious assault and movement capability in Asia as it
offered inherent flexibility in both defense and aid provision.
Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said earlier in a
speech to the conference that it was vital the U.S. remained
"engaged and connected" with the Asia region as part of Mr. Obama's
promised economic, strategic and diplomatic pivot to Asia, first
outlined in Australia in 2011.
China's role in challenging U.S. pre-eminence should be, she
said, as a prosperous nation "actively and constructively engaged
as a significant power in regional and global affairs'.
In 2011, the U.S. and Australia reached a deal to rotate a
2,500-strong U.S. marine expeditionary brigade through the northern
Australian city of Darwin for several months a year as part of
Washington's "pivot". The long-standing allies have been united in
criticizing what U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently called
"destabilizing, unilateral actions" by China in relation to its
neighbors.
Australia's Defence Minister, Mr. Johnston, speaking at the same
conference, said Canberra didn't take a position on competing South
and East China Seas claims, but had "a legitimate interest in the
maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law,
unimpeded trade and freedom of navigation".
"Australia cannot be secure in an insecure region," he said. "We
share the serious concerns expressed by Asean over recent
territorial tensions in the South China Sea and urge all parties to
exercise restraint, refrain from actions that could increase
tensions, and to clarify and pursue claims in accordance with
international law."
A spokesman for Mr. Johnston declined to respond directly to
Maj-Gen Simcock's comments.
Write to Rob Taylor at rob.taylor@wsj.com