(MENAFN) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced further soldier and vehicle deployments while charging China with undermining "peace and stability" in the area. The US military is preparing to increase its presence in Australia. The action was taken shortly after Beijing criticized Washington for encouraging "nuclear proliferation" in accordance with an agreement made with Canberra last year.
The two nations announced their agreement to station more American troops on the continent in a joint statement following meetings between Austin and his Australian counterpart on Tuesday. They also claimed that Washington would strengthen its land, sea, and air forces to counter Beijing.
“The United States and Australia share a vision of a region where countries can determine their own futures. Unfortunately, that vision is being challenged today,” Austin informed reporters following the meeting that “China's dangerous and coercive actions throughout the Indo- Pacific, including around Taiwan, and toward the Pacific Island countries and in the East and South China Seas, threaten regional peace and stability.”
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