(Image Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation) 

BY NICOLE THOMPSON

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

U.S. troops are goin’ down under! President Barack Obama announced Wednesday he will be increasing the nation’s military presence in Australia. But... why? CNN has more.

“He and the prime minister emphasizing more the ability that this new announcement will allow for them to provide humanitarian assistance in the region... this military emphasis certainly ties in very much to commerce, because you’ve seen China recently launch its first aircraft carrier and making some territorial claims to the South China Sea, which sees a lot of commerce.”

So President Obama says humanitarian aid and commerce... but the point media outlets are taking away here is China. Mr. Obama addressed this issue in a joint press conference with Australia’s prime minister Julia Gillard. Here’s the Telegraph with the president’s comments.

“Where China is playing by those rules, recognizing its new role, I think this is a win-win situation. There are going to be times where they’re not, and we will send a clear message to them that we think they need to be on track in terms of accepting the rules and responsibilities that come with being a world power.”

This new agreement between the U.S. and Australia has the Chinese a little skeptical. China’s official Xinhua news agency writes...

“The United States is taking steps, at least bold in rhetoric, to materialize its ‘Comeback to Asia’ strategy, and to convince its Asian allies that it intends to remain a crucial military and economic power in the region as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draw to a close. Still ... it could complicate the already volatile situation, escalate regional tensions and damage relations with China.”

And the Communist Party-run Global Times tabloid took an even stronger view, firing a warning shot to Australia.

“But one thing is certain - if Australia uses its military bases to help the US harm Chinese interests, then Australia itself will be caught in the crossfire.”

But despite the criticism from China, some in Australia are praising the agreement, saying America’s presence is good for security on all fronts. The Australian writes...

“Despite the rising economic, diplomatic and military reach of China, US supremacy is the bedrock of security in the region. It underwrites the security of South Korea and Japan, it quells the tensions across the Taiwan Straits, it keeps the seaways open, [and] bolsters counter-terrorism operations... and when natural disasters ... strike, the region looks automatically to Washington, not Beijing, for assistance.”

By the middle of next year, the U.S. will ship 250 Marines to Australia - a force that will eventually grow to 2,500.

Transcript by Newsy.