Australian PM: Multibillion Dollar Military Spending Not a Warning to China

SYDNEY - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says multibillion-dollar investments in military bases in northern Australia are designed to enhance regional peace, rather than as a deliberate response to China's growing assertiveness.  In response, officials in Beijing have called Australian politicians the “real troublemakers.”

Australia is beefing up its military bases in the Northern Territory, including facilities to train aboriginal recruits, and others that host joint exercises with U.S. Marines stationed in the region.   Speaking at the Robertson army barracks in the Northern Territory, Prime Minister Scott Morrison insisted a 10-year $6 billion plan to improve defense facilities was meant to keep the peace in an "uncertain" region rather than preparing for conflict. He was responding to questions from the media about recent tensions with Beijing over Taiwan. “All of our objectives here through the activities of our defense forces are designed to pursue peace. That is the objective of our government,” he said.