US, Japan, Australia Vow To Work Together Against China

The defense ministers of the United States, Australia and Japan agreed Saturday to boost military cooperation in the face of China's growing ambitions.

The defense ministers of the United States, Australia and Japan agreed on Saturday to boost military cooperation in the face of China's growing ambitions.

"We are deeply concerned about China's increasingly aggressive and extremist behavior in the Taiwan Strait and elsewhere in the region,

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, welcoming his counterparts from Australia and Japan to US Military Pacific Command headquarters.

“Our interest is to support the rules-based global order. But we see that order under pressure in the Indo-Pacific region as well,

Australian Minister Richard Marless said that China is trying to shape the world around it in a way we've never seen before."

The United States is pressing a diplomatic offensive to counter Chinese influence in the region.

On Thursday, Washington announced an $810 million aid package for Pacific island nations where the United States plans to ramp up its diplomatic presence.

Vice President Kamala Harris last week traveled to Japan and South Korea and said the United States would act without fear or hesitation throughout Asia, including the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of China and also claims the thin and crowded channel of water separating the two.

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