US Marines began arriving in Australia' s tropical north on Tuesday for a six-month deployment during which they will conduct exercises with Australian and visiting Chinese forces. Current top breaking Philippine headlines regarding the nation, world, metro manila, regions and exclusive special investigative reports.
DARWIN – US Marines began arriving in Australia’s tropical north on Tuesday for a six-month deployment during which they will conduct exercises with Australian and visiting Chinese forces. The 25-year annual deployment program started by former US President Barack Obama in 2011 is part of the US “pivot” to Asia at a time of increased assertiveness by China. “I think that the commitment that we’ve taken to put a task force here with a conversation to get larger over the years says that we do think this is an important region, ” said Marines’ commander Lieutenant Colonel Brian Middleton after the first troops arrived in Darwin in the Northern Territory. “Being close to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, the Indo Pacific position has always been important.” Middleton said the marines would conduct an “important exercise alongside our Chinese partners” and Australia.
