澳大利亚总理豪尔（John Howard）7月5日在一份新国防策略书中表示，中国快速扩张的军力，动摇了本地区的稳定性。1 Q6 s$ C. i5 b. s0 a
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“它的军事现代化速度与规模，特别是发展新型与毁灭性武器的能力，如反卫星飞弹，将可能在本地区造成误解与不稳定。”澳大利亚政府在7月5日发表的国防报告书中如是说。3 Z" O/ O& z. C% D- [0 _6 m
6 Q) \4 V+ D _; _! T路透社指出，身为美国亲密盟友的澳大利亚，在中国于今年取代日本，成为澳国的最大贸易伙伴之际，对中国军力与经济的发展，一直以来抱持鸽派态度。 7 d5 W/ g7 y l$ R, p; J. [4 q* ~5 H7 k, w) s% f
但随着华府以忧虑的眼光看待堪培拉与北京之间逐渐加温的关系时，豪尔政府决定采行新策略，将步伐移向日本与美国的身旁，此两国军与澳大利亚有着国防安全上的协议。" y% d @6 ~. n
3 p5 n# Q: Q, I, H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。 ' J# Q2 j" K1 X4 H" _ & g, g. n m4 s* W, {) l q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。" i9 v3 w- P0 B3 k
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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。”0 b. L. m9 z% `: g4 S+ I8 Q5 j
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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。+ M6 E9 N( m7 k* F9 V4 E) I
: T5 a" ? W5 U9 p4 y: C* E另一方面，澳、美、日也在印度召开了国防对话。 2 h, m' U1 {0 m' j: j! k7 k* [9 S8 I5 O$ H+ v" ?" N
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Australia, US concerned over China's military buildup, back greater role for Japan; ~6 p a5 h7 {2 I" u' ]
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% s; Y u! @! N' Q2 GCANBERRA, 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. ! [% u* Z6 w, i9 J3 Y% `9 p3 E$ ` : E" {7 j; F5 C. S" Z0 zReleasing 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. - C% t! u9 F' B! `, f8 y2 H5 h1 y9 f0 e D1 e3 k5 B1 t3 K5 p% V
"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.5 `* B5 i& e; k5 b: [" M5 w3 ^
) ^1 d6 k( X/ t; t9 ?% IThe 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.! D7 V" u4 V/ {. R6 D+ }" Z8 z
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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." . r0 g/ ~9 |2 \" T* P: f. M& }; K S& \& {. I6 J1 J' B4 D) Z& t
Separately Thursday, the commander of the United States' Japan-based naval battle group voiced Washington's concern about China rapid military expansion.; E& M5 Z; L) J* q( P
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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." 2 M+ Z& j g$ I4 w 9 N% S3 s' r( C- d9 C, ~1 ~: fWren, 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. % q+ B. R5 k/ U p" B! m! g" _"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."! A* Z( x( k7 I
( A- L3 D8 @) @" I: ` ?; CMore 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. & j B) h7 o9 Q3 G/ t+ f Y& Y1 l+ Z2 S
Japan 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. 4 G/ r! c. X: w: z3 Q) H/ _( T$ }& t7 ^5 Q4 I! R4 \
"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."/ H7 v9 `6 o/ {8 V9 d& r$ s
& e4 A8 c" |1 M1 X' \$ S5 ^2 gCooperation could include non-combat roles such as disaster relief and other humanitarian operations, he said. # T! p( M4 s8 d# {8 }; w' @, w. I2 L" f8 h( h% I f
The 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." # d3 Z4 m0 \2 h; e9 `; A" z8 H+ u . W) u7 l% a: K. @/ H2 t3 c$ m"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 o/ y# \( p7 _- q4 F . y! u+ R; A& J! S' QHoward 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."5 M5 C+ W6 ~( l: z7 Y3 A7 r
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The report said mishandling tensions between Taiwan and China could have "disastrous consequences for the region."( j) |: c# b: _9 Y; p6 u
6 L: W/ Z# E$ x" z' YThe 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. 0 G( S/ r1 r; }0 ]" l# E% {6 K' @# h( R
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.
