U.S. President Barack Obama today vowed to expand U.S. influence in the Asia-Pacific region - as he battles to contain the rising economic and military might of China. He promised to 'project power and deter threats to peace' in that part of the world, hours after he announced he would be permanently stationing military aircraft and up to 2,500 Marines in northern Australia. News of the training hub 'to help allies and protect American interests across Asia' comes despite a reduction in defence spending and the winding down of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Promise: U.S. President Barack Obama today vowed to expand U.S. influence in the Asia-Pacific region - as he battles to contain the rising economic and military might of China
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President vows to contain the rising economic and military might of China
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Promised to 'project power and deter threats to peace' in Asia-Pacific
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2,500 U.S. Marines to be permanently stationed in northern Australia
Asia-Pacific region
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Asia-Pacific region
Asia-Pacific
He said in a speech to the Australian Parliament: 'The United States is a @placeholder power, and we are here to stay'.
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China
@placeholder immediately questioned the U.S. move and said it deserved further scrutiny.
Asia-Pacific region
Asia
Asia-Pacific region
Asia-Pacific
He said: 'Let there be no doubt: in the @placeholder in the 21st century, the United States of America is all in.'
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U.S.
American
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U.S.
U.S.
The @placeholder will bear the cost of the deployment and the troops will be shifted from other deployments around the world.
Australia
Australia
Obama's visit is intended to show the tightness of that relationship and he hailed the long ties between the United States and @placeholder, two nations far away that have spilled blood together