The comments from China’s Defense Ministry were in response to a recent announcement by President Obama and Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard that 2,500 U.S. troops would be stationed in northern Australia by 20-17.
China and Indonesia had both previously questioned the move, but a Chinese defense spokesman has now described it as “cold war mentality.”
These are perhaps the strongest comments Beijing has made on the issue, which Australia and the U.S. say is about strengthening and expanding their military alliance.
“(It) does not conform with the current trends of peace, development and cooperation and is not conducive to enhancing mutual trust and cooperation between countries in the region,” defense ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said in a statement.
Chinese state media has accused the U.S. president of trying to win votes by using his diplomatic ambitions in Asia to detract from U.S. economic woes.
Obama made the announcement as part of a week-long tour of the Pacific — during which he also took in three summits — aimed at asserting the United States as a Pacific power.
The U.S. views with increasing concern China’s growing assertiveness in Asia-Pacific on territorial disputes, as do many of the Asian powerhouse’s neighbors.
But China maintains it has a policy of “peaceful development” with all countries.
