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Thursday, September 3, 2009 | 
CANBERRA (AFP) – Australia said Thursday it was open to holding joint military exercises with China and the United States, amid growing concern about Beijing's military build-up.
"I am long on the record that our respective militaries across the region should be acting much more closely together when it comes in particular to search and rescue operations (and) counter natural disaster operations," said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
His foreign minister, Stephen Smith agreed there was no reason Australia's defence cooperation and contact with a range of other countries "can't be contemplated with China".
The comments came as the top US military commander in Asia said joint military exercises would increase regional stability and ease concerns in the US and Australia about Beijing's military might, Fairfax newspapers reported.
The report said Admiral Timothy Keating and Australian Defence Force chief Angus Houston met this week and agreed to put the proposal to China "at the earliest opportunity".
"We are anxious to engage with them," Keating told Fairfax. "We want to understand much better than we do now China's intentions."
China's ambassador to Australia Junsai Zhang welcomed the prospect, telling public broadcaster ABC "any positive signs will help to improve the relationship, because this relationship is very solid."
Keating told Fairfax that Beijing's public statements on its defence plans were "less than fulfilling" and urged China: "Don't stand in isolation in the Asia Pacific."
He said the proposed exercises would start with small-scale naval and land activities, followed by personnel exchanges.
Asked if strengthening military ties would upset regional powers such as India, Japan and South Korea, Keating said: "We can control the rheostat on this and invite nations to observe and participate.
"It is a fairly simple thing to do."
The Australian defence department said it had already conducted joint naval exercises with China and New Zealand in 2007 and upgraded bilateral military dialogue with Beijing last year.
"Our ability to speak frankly on issues such as China's military modernisation is an indication of the growing maturity of our relationship," a defence spokeswoman said.
The United States has repeatedly raised concerns about the size of China's military build-up, with a Pentagon report earlier this year warning Beijing's pursuit of sophisticated weaponry was altering Asia's military balance.
Australia in May cited China's military expansion as a key reason behind a 70-billion-US-dollar boost in defence spending over the next 20 years.
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