BEIJING, China (Reuters) — China expressed concerns on Wednesday (March 9) over the United States’ plan to base long-range bombers in Australia, and claimed that such cooperation should not target the interests of third parties.
The deployments could include B-1 bombers and an expansion of B-52 bomber missions, said Lt. Col. Damien Pickart, a spokesman for the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific, stressing that discussions were continuing and no decisions had yet been reached.
Should an agreement be reached, it would position further U.S. military aircraft close to the disputed South China Sea and risk angering China, a move that could inflame tensions with China.
“We are concerned at relevant reports. At the moment, the major regional trend and people’s desire is to seek peace and cooperation to push forward development. Cooperation among relevant counties should protect regional peace and stability, and any bilateral cooperation should not target the interests of third parties,” spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.
Australia last month committed to increase defence spending by nearly A$30 billion ($22 billion), seeking to protect its strategic and trade interests in the Asia-Pacific as the United States and its allies grapple with China’s rising power.
The potential stationing of B-1 bombers in Australia was raised by U.S. officials last year, but Australia’s then Defence Minister said they had misspoken.
China claims almost all of the South China Sea, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have overlapping claims.
