Sydney: As the two close allies strengthen their military ties in response to China's expanding regional reach, the United States commissioned a warship in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday, marking the first time a US Navy vessel entered active service at a foreign port.
The Independence-class littoral combat ship was commissioned at a ceremony at an Australian naval base on Sydney Harbor, officially joining the US Navy's active fleet. It was named after a Royal Australian Navy cruiser that was sunk while assisting the US Marine landings on Guadalcanal in 1942.
"Australians can be proud that this ship, designed in Western Australia by local industry and named after HMAS Canberra, is being commissioned here for the first time in the history of the United States Navy," said Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles in a statement.
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The US ship's inauguration in Australian territorial waters demonstrated "our shared commitment to upholding the rules-based order," the official continued.
The ceremony coincides with the US and Australia's biennial Talisman Sabre military drills, which are seen as a show of strength and cohesion against China's growing Indo-Pacific power play.
Marles responded, "I'm not," when asked if he was concerned about the presence of a Chinese spy ship off the northeast coast of Australia.
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He told Channel 9 television, "I've been to Talisman Sabre now for many years and there seems to be a ship from China looking at this, and that's fine.
The two-week long exercises include amphibious landings as well as simulated land and air combat in a number of locations across Australia. Forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga, and Britain are also participating in addition to Australia and the US.
With 210 paratroopers and marines, Germany is taking part for the first time as the newest European country to increase its presence in the area.
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The United States and Britain have agreed to assist Australia in acquiring a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS project, which was announced in March.
Prior to that, in the early 2030s, the US is required to sell Australia three nuclear-powered submarines of the US Virginia class, with an option for two more.