According to a news report on Monday, the US is getting ready to send up to six nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to northern Australia, which prompted China to charge the US with disrupting regional peace and stability.
According to national broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corp., the United States is getting ready to construct special facilities for the long-range bombers at Royal Australian Air Force Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.
Thousands of Americans live in Darwin, a coastal city south of Tindal.
By an agreement between the then-U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S., Julia Gillard, the then-prime minister, and President Barack Obama.
When asked if the United States is getting ready to send bombers to Australia during a news conference on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese chose not to explicitly comment.
Albanese says, “we occasionally engage with our allies in the United States alliance.”
Some American tourists travel to Australia, notably Darwin. Marines were stationed there on a rotating basis, he added.
American bombers being able to fly to Australia, according to the U.S. Air Force, “sends a strong message to enemies about our ability to project lethal air force.”
Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded to a question concerning American nuclear bombers stationed in Australia by saying that international military and security cooperation “should not target any third parties or hurt the interests of third parties.”
At a routine press briefing in Beijing, Zhao said, “The relevant U.S. behaviors have raised regional tensions, significantly damaged regional peace and stability, and may spark an arms race in the region.”
Zhao continued, “China urges the parties concerned to give up the antiquated Cold War, the zero-sum attitude, and narrow geopolitical thinking, and to take steps that will promote regional peace and stability as well as bilateral trust.”
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