- I9 N s. [: u/ ^/ [; v6 N此份报告书也反映了部分指挥官认为澳大利亚的国防策略，应转向强调同美国与日本之间的联系，此种关系也是在北京受质疑的声浪下，所做的态度转变。 1 Y! g% L* i# w$ B. t( [ ) N% w* v; F1 |9 F' m当澳大利亚在第二次世界大战后，成为美国在亚太地区最强大的军事与政治盟友之际，堪培拉在近几年也开始积极建立与北京的边境关系。 3 A. y. G# ?: t+ R( | 4 M7 S w& W) Q2 k4 M* U澳大利亚国家大学（Australian National University）的怀特（Hugh White）表示，“它显示了（豪尔政府）在华府与东京的施压下，正改变策略，转变为不欢迎中国力量的增强。我认为中国将会对此感到非常不舒服。” & u1 E$ q2 ^& R% e' J( b6 z, ]+ |4 o3 @: y2 R
在国防蓝图下，澳大利亚自2005年来第一次将中国的反卫星导弹等武器测试等能力，视为“具分裂性”的，此外，也表示亚太地区在美国的军力下得益。 ( g! a# s3 v5 K& {! | % w0 X3 N- Q3 A实际上，在日本逐渐增加自己在全球以及地区安全上的影响力时，澳大利亚也逐渐将友好的目标转向日本。3 t+ x: t/ s& ~4 ^, j! R
4 c: n. v' L& Q+ @: M5 g今年3月时，预计将今年的国防开支提升10.6％的豪尔，与日本首相安倍晋三签署了历史性的安全协议，自从那一刻起，澳大利亚便与美国、日本共同拥有三角安全协防关系，此外，对由日本支持、美国领头的导弹防御系统来说，也是一项利多。 4 j" m3 g+ ]4 h( T" K( l. Z* `0 }2 d3 V* ~! H
6月，日本与澳洲则首次举行了外长与国防部长会议，会议后发表共同声明，确认两国互为不可或缺的伙伴关系。“日澳双边关系由共同的和平利益、地区稳定以及各自与美国的同盟关系为支柱。”+ f" @7 ^! K0 x
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声明也提到了3月签署的日澳安保协议，强调两国在全球安全问题上的合作，包括伊拉克、阿富汗、朝鲜核威胁的议题。此外，日澳两国还将深化在地区维和和灾难救援中的合作。 2 p' y3 B" F5 P5 c: Q, ?3 v% w/ q* T; _( s n' y# Q, h9 S
另一方面，澳、美、日也在印度召开了国防对话。) G( P& o+ V: w8 @* m' o/ Z
- n; Y" Y& L) ?4 s 7 o- K5 r4 E* [/ F5 hAustralia, US concerned over China's military buildup, back greater role for Japan ) o# H1 p: p7 `( @ 6 X" B# F1 o0 [) ^9 F8 n; ~8 d* V' B5 A! E2 I d
CANBERRA, Australia: Australia and a top U.S. military official expressed concern Thursday that China's rapid military buildup and use of a missile in space could add to instability in the Asia-Pacific, and backed a greater role for Japan in regional security. / J) Q; h/ g# _" ?2 }( b+ k9 L5 E 9 y. k: m: [& X4 \Releasing his government's first defense policy update since 2005, Prime Minister John Howard said China's economic rise was good for the world, but added a caution that it was also a pivotal player in several tense issues in the region.3 L6 _ ^+ s' C' l; Q3 l" T# d% Q
! j- _. \8 Z2 G( Z8 \. Z"The pace and scope of its military modernization, particularly the development of new and disruptive capabilities such as the anti-satellite missile, could create misunderstandings and instability in the region," the policy report said.6 ]9 u/ C0 B" x0 G0 b5 w, Y9 ^& i/ K
2 d3 F/ F/ P+ \4 G9 E! k1 [4 fThe policy brings Canberra closely into line with Washington, which has expressed similar concerns about China's military expansion. The two are already close allies, with a defense pact and Australian contributions to U.S.-led operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.* m) G& K; N. i. N$ [. Q
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Responding to the report, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday at a regular press briefing that China's defense policy is "defensive in nature and we will stick to the road of peaceful development. China is a staunch force for the safeguarding of world and regional peace and stability."& p: o* o2 D* C# e/ p' G
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Separately Thursday, the commander of the United States' Japan-based naval battle group voiced Washington's concern about China rapid military expansion. {- b# r+ x/ ~. v5 k
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"Certainly we are a bit wary of China," Rear Adm. Rick Wren, the commander of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk's battle group, told The Associated Press. "They seem to be fairly opaque in communicating what they intend to do with this large military buildup." + u$ X/ v' w- U" I' l% v' C% B) ]: K) B6 \/ M; Q6 H
Wren, speaking aboard the carrier as it came into Sydney Harbor for a port visit, said the United States wants China to become a stabilizing force in Asia. 8 r y5 T8 [0 G1 N 8 T. _3 I5 u/ E"Certainly we need them to be a stabilizing force in this region," he said. "But until we can actually define that, we will continue to practice our skills and be ready for whatever the president calls on us to do."9 H6 @7 S) G# P9 H
; M4 L+ f9 O/ ?2 L/ w. `( ZMore than 5,000 U.S. sailors were due to take shore leave in Sydney after completing the Talisman Saber exercises, a biennial event that this year pitted 20,000 U.S. troops and 7,500 Australian forces and dozens of ships and planes against fictional enemies in a variety of land and sea-based scenarios off Australia's northeastern coast.( Y. e0 V. e4 r h& R6 j, N' s- O
& Y8 z( {9 O2 HJapan took part in the Talisman Saber exercises as an observer, and Wren said Japan would take a "much bigger" role in future exercises. He did not elaborate.; @0 ~& l/ B( ?: D; d3 x, r
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"The importance of multilateral alliance in this theater is very important," Wren said. "What we both want to do is expand that in the interest of creating a stronger and long-lasting regional stability, and so we are bringing in many other nations."+ s3 ^- p! | Q4 Z y
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Cooperation could include non-combat roles such as disaster relief and other humanitarian operations, he said. ; _ g n5 p6 W: K3 { / q3 V, C' O0 gThe Australian policy document said cooperation between Australia, Japan and the United States would become increasingly important in maintaining stability in Asia, and noted "Australia has no closer nor more valuable partner in the region than Japan." , m b, Y; p0 {" {& ^* ^3 W6 G$ L0 f9 Q& Z. K
"Japan's more active security posture within the U.S. alliance and multinational coalitions is in keeping with its economic and diplomatic weight," it said. 0 y6 o( V4 G" |7 d5 F" v ' q# b/ b/ n% J; o) v* L6 k2 pHoward said China's economic rise was good for the world, but that "U.S.-China relations, China-Japan tensions and long-standing flash points in Taiwan and the Korean peninsula will require continuing careful management." % X+ ~; T2 W u8 |2 { % M6 d& V. d. [The report said mishandling tensions between Taiwan and China could have "disastrous consequences for the region."$ }+ s6 `( r! Q2 m- @- @
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The United States and Japan are stepping up efforts to build a joint missile defense system in Asia, partly as a bulwark against regional threats such as a nuclear-armed North Korea. Australia, a steadfast U.S. ally that has about 2,000 troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, is studying whether to participate in the defense shield. 8 W% X; M% q0 p8 p4 I0 ?: j8 `0 a! Q0 N5 l; R4 {% v8 h
Australia and Japan signed a security agreement in March that will enable Japanese forces to train alongside Australians for disaster relief and peacekeeping missions, and boost cooperation between the two countries in counterterrorism measures and intelligence sharing.
