We're within reach of Chinese missiles
The Chief of the Defence Force says Chinese missiles could hit Australia, but strategic analysts reckon Beijing would not bother to waste any of its nuclear warheads on this country.
Gen. David Hurley said yesterday the Australian and Chinese military trained together regularly and would continue to have a good relationship, despite this week's announcement that 2500 US marines would soon be stationed in Darwin.
Asked about suggestions the US was keen to station troops in Darwin because they would be out of Chinese missile range, Gen. Hurley said it had been a "well-known fact for many years" that Beijing had missiles that could reach Australia.
"Yes they could," he said.
But he denied the US deployment to Darwin would make Australia more of a target if China's relationship with America became heated.
"This is all about a training relationship, enhancing relationship with Australia, regional involvement for enhancing security, not decreasing our security," he said.
Hugh White, professor of strategic and defence studies at the Australian National University, said China would have higher priority targets around the world than a small number of US and Australian troops in Darwin.
Professor White was scathing of the new agreement between the US and Australia, warning that the Gillard Government had clumsily allowed itself to be drawn into Washington's growing row with China.
"For years Australian governments have been saying we don't want to be forced to choose between the US and China - well we just have," he said. .
Professor White said the US- Australia alliance now looked to have been transformed into a pact against China.
He said China was likely to retaliate against Australia, perhaps by shutting down crucial diplomatic channels.
Yesterday, Indonesian military chief Agus Suhartono warned the US military presence in Australia would increase tensions in the region. Admiral Agus told the Jakarta Post newspaper the US deployment could upset Australia's neighbours.
"Their military fleets would very likely go back and forth through our waters, given the analysis that the planned base will have to conduct due to rising tensions in the South China Sea," he said.
