US military, seeking strategic advantages, builds defences in Australia to counter China in South China Sea
- In Reports
- 08:26 PM, Jul 26, 2024
- Myind Staff
The U.S. military is constructing infrastructure in northern Australia to enhance its ability to project power into the South China Sea in the event of a crisis with China, according to a Reuters review of documents and interviews with U.S. and Australian defense officials. Darwin, which is closer to the Philippines than to Canberra, the capital of Australia's east coast, has historically been a garrison town for both the Australian Defence Force and a U.S. Marine Rotational Force that is stationed there for six months each year.
A few hundred kilometers to the south, RAAF Base Tindal hosts crucial components of Australia's airpower and recently served as a temporary base for U.S. jets during exercises. As northern Australia becomes increasingly significant in the Indo-Pacific amid escalating tensions with China, the United States has quietly started building hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of facilities in the region. These developments aim to support B-52 bombers, F-22 stealth fighters, as well as refuelling and transport aircraft. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to disperse U.S. forces across the region and reduce their vulnerability.
Colonel Brian Mulvihill, commanding officer of the U.S. Marine Rotational Force, noted, "When you look at the positioning of northern Australia, particularly Darwin, in relation to the region ... it's always good to have multiple options in where you would want to put your forces in any type of crisis." Tender documents reveal plans for intelligence briefing rooms, upgraded runways for bombers, warehouses, data centers, and maintenance hangars. Officials informed Reuters during a rare visit to the two northern bases that massive fuel storage facilities are already in place.
The projects, slated for construction in 2024 and 2025, will make northern Australia the primary overseas location for U.S. Air Force and Navy construction spending, with over $300 million allocated under U.S. congressional defense authorisations for those years. Additionally, the U.S. Navy in June sought contractors for projects valued up to $2 billion, aimed at building wharves, runways, fuel storage, and hangars in locations such as Australia's Cocos Islands, as well as neighbouring Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste. This initiative is part of a broader program to counter China's influence in the region.
China's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Air Commodore Ron Tilley, the Royal Australian Air Force's Director-General of Capital Facilities and Infrastructure, confirmed that the U.S. is funding the construction of facilities at Darwin and Tindal to support its operations. He added, "I don't believe the U.S. would be spending all this money on our northern bases if there wasn't an arrangement in place where they could use those facilities they are funding in times of conflict."
Canberra has strengthened its ties with Washington under the AUKUS pact, which includes the transfer of U.S. nuclear submarine technology to Australia in the next decade. Despite this, the Australian government has remained largely silent regarding the U.S. military construction efforts in northern Australia.
The Australian government has recently unveiled plans to invest A$14 billion in "hardening" its northern bases as part of the country's largest defense overhaul since World War II. Both Australian and U.S. defense officials emphasised that the new facilities should not be considered U.S. bases. Foreign basing is a sensitive political issue in Australia, and successive governments, including that of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, have stated that there are no U.S. bases on Australian soil. Air Commodore Ron Tilley clarified, "All the bases will remain Australian bases, but will be able to be utilised by our international partners."
According to Mulvihill, a 2011 agreement allowing the U.S. Marine Corps to temporarily train in Darwin has evolved into a regional deterrence role, with approximately 2,000 Marines stationed there each year. Recent war games included participation from troops from the Philippines and Timor Leste. The Marines are expanding facilities in Darwin to accommodate their MV-22 Osprey aircraft, which are used for transporting troops and equipment.
"Darwin is absolutely key terrain for us to help bring stability to the region," Mulvihill said in an interview at Darwin's Larrakeyah Barracks. "We are more focused on that interoperability with the Australian Defence Force – how can we project power from northern Australia into the region."
The United States aims to disperse its forces from major Pacific bases, such as Guam and Okinawa, to enhance their security and reduce vulnerability. For Australia, the northern bases provide improved access to the South China Sea. Tindal, in particular, offers a secure inland location for Australia’s F-35A stealth aircraft and MQ-4C Triton long-range surveillance drone. This month, a U.S. F-22 Raptor squadron shared the facilities during Exercise Pitch Black.
RAAF Base Tindal Wing Commander Fiona Pearce described Tindal’s location as "vitally important," offering "greater reach into our near region." U.S. tender documents and engineering plans reveal that Tindal will have parking and hangars for six B-52 bombers and refuelling aircraft. Australia is investing A$1.5 billion ($981.45 million) in Tindal’s redevelopment, with a new terminal, control tower, hangars, and additional accommodation for personnel nearing completion by July. The site features separate U.S. and Australian jet fuel stores, and the tarmac is being prepared for the bomber expansion.
About a third of residents in the sparsely populated Northern Territory are Indigenous Australians, though they make up only 10% of Darwin's population. Traditional Owners, who are Indigenous Australians with cultural rights to specific land or sea areas, are allowed to visit sacred sites on the military bases, according to U.S. and Australian officials.
Tibby Quall, 75, is one of several Traditional Owners who have expressed concerns that increasing demand for defense-related housing in Darwin has led to the clearing of forests they wish to protect. Rising property prices have also pushed Indigenous families out of the city. Despite having visitation rights, Quall notes that his family lacks a meaningful voice in decisions about land use.
"Defense are the prominent citizens," said Quall, a military veteran. Darwin Mayor Kon Vatskalis acknowledged that while the city's economic boost from the growing defense presence is welcomed, some residents are concerned that hosting the U.S. military could make the city a target.
Vatskalis countered these concerns, stating, "The reality is that we are already a target- We are the most northern port in Australia, and we serve the gas and oil industry." He expressed support for the military expansion, emphasising the strategic importance of Darwin.
Image Source: Arab News
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