US presence evolves in Southeast Asia

WASHINGTON - Impending budget cuts, lingering regional perceptions of United States imperialism and misbehavior by Asia-deployed US troops have made "base" a four-letter word in much of Southeast Asia. But as Washington puts renewed strategic priority on the region, new flexible arrangements bid to allow the US military to regain a footing without stirring nationalist sentiments.

Many Southeast Asian countries welcome the US military's presence, especially in light of China's provocations and assertive claims to contested areas in the South China Sea. Yet any hint of allowing the US to establish permanent bases resembling those in Okinawa, Japan, or the former Clark Air Base in the Philippines have been rejected out of hand by lawmakers.

The US plans to reinforce its military presence in Southeast Asia as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan wind down and counterbalancing China's rise assumes policy precedence. The modus operandi for the expansion will focus on joint exercises, rotations, and stationing and docking agreements that avoid the establishment of costly bases.

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In Brisbane, a new Australian fleet base will be able to accommodate visits from US warships and submarines. In Perth, the expansion of the HMAS Stirling naval base will accommodate visits by US aircraft carriers, as well as warships and submarines. In Darwin, as many as 2,500 US marines are expected to participate in rotational deployments. In the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, located halfway between Australia and Sri Lanka, an airfield is expected to be upgraded for P-8 surveillance aircraft and Global Hawk drones.

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