I don't understand Obama's foreign policy. Why must the United States send marines to reside in Australia? The broader question: why must the U.S. have bases in the Far East, or for that matter, anywhere on foreign soil?
It is clearly a provocative act to the Chinese. It is belligerent and communicates that the U.S. might resort to starting a war against China because of its predominant economic successes.
Obama is no better than George W. Bush. Like Bush, he must believe, truly believe, in American hegemony.