Dette høres ganske hult ut med referanse til Kinas militarisering av øyer i Sør Kinahavet. (Red.)
CHINA SAYS
B-52S IN NT COULD ‘TRIGGER ARMS RACE IN REGION’
| November 1, 2022
China
has warned the US’s plans to regularly base six of its nuclear-capable B-52
bombers at RAAF Base Tindal may “trigger
an arms race in the region”.
The
country’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, urged the US and
Australia to abandon what it branded an “outdated Cold War zero-sum mentality”
and “narrow geopolitical mindset”.
“Such a
move by the US and Australia escalates regional tensions, gravely undermines
regional peace and stability, and may trigger an arms race in the region,”
Lijian said.
He
added the countries should “do more things that are good for regional peace and
stability and mutual trust among all parties.”
It follows a report by Four
Corners on Monday that revealed Washington will build dedicated facilities in
the NT, including a ‘squadron operations facility’ and parking areas for the
aircraft. While the aircraft is a regular visitor to Australia, the development
means B-52s will effectively be regularly based here.
It
comes amid growing tensions with China and after the US sent six of its B-2
Spirit bombers to train at RAAF Base Amberley this year.
The
upgrades to Tindal that will allow it to house B-52 are expected to cost $22.5
million and be financed by the US government.
The US Air Force appeared to confirm the plans telling the ABC, “The RAAF’s ability to host USAF bombers, as well as train alongside them, demonstrates how integrated our two air forces are.”
However,
both the federal government and territory governments have played down any
concerns the new facility at Tindal could escalate relations in the region.
Minister
for Northern Australia, Madeleine King, called the base upgrade a “welcome
investment” that would be good for the community and jobs.
Meanwhile, the Northern Territory’s Deputy Chief Minister, Nicole
Manison, added the move wouldn’t be a cause for concern.
“I
think everybody acknowledges that the Northern Territory has always been … a
defence place,” Manison said.
“I
think territorians are very comfortable with that, they understand our
strategic location, and generally are very supportive of that defence
investment.”
The B-52H
Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of
missions, including nuclear and conventional bombing alongside maritime
surveillance.
The US
currently has a fleet of 76, and the aircraft type has been in operation for
more than 60 years. During the first Gulf War, it dropped 40 per cent of the
coalition force’s weapons.
It has
an unrefueled combat range in excess of 14,000km.
“The
B-52 is capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the
U.S. inventory,” states the US Air Force’s website.
“This
includes gravity bombs, cluster bombs, precision-guided missiles and joint
direct attack munitions.
“Updated
with modern technology, the B-52 is capable of delivering the full complement
of joint-developed weapons and will continue into the 21st century as an
important element of our nation’s defences.
“The
Air Force currently expects to operate B-52s through 2050.”
It
comes after the US sent six of its batwing, B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to Amberley this year to
train with RAAF F-35s.
The
UFO-like Spirit can also carry nuclear weapons and is thought to be the most
expensive aircraft ever made, valued at around $2 billion each.
Their
visit amounted to the biggest-ever deployment of the US’s most important
military jet to Australia, with the country’s active fleet only numbering 20.
It came
as the US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan. China retaliated by
testing ballistic missiles over Taipei for the first time.
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