In the first long-term expansion of the American military's presence in the Pacific since the end of the Vietnam War, the United States has agreed to deploy 2,500 Marines in Australia. President Obama described the move as an attempt to shore up alliances in Asia, but China has accused the U.S. of stoking military tensions in the region.
Does the U.S. need troops in Australia? What does the deployment say about American military strategy in the region and more generally?
Responses:
Investing in U.S. Power in Asia
Dean Cheng, Heritage Foundation
A Pivot That Is Long Overdue
Joseph S. Nye, author, "The Future of Power"
Why Symbols Matter
Kori Schake, Hoover Institution
Competing for Primacy in Asia
Hugh White, Australian National University