Australia must choose between United States and China - US military official
SYDNEY - A senior US soldier said on Thursday Australia must choose between a stronger U.S. alliance or closer ties with China, and urged Canberra to take a tougher stance against Chinese claims in the South China Sea.
"I think the Australians need to make a choice ... it's very difficult to walk this fine line between balancing the alliance with the United States and the economic engagement with China," US Army Assistant Chief of Staff Colonel Tom Hanson said on Australian Broadcasting Corp. Radio.
"There's going to have to be a decision as to which one is more of a vital national interest for Australia," he said, adding that this was his personal view, and not necessarily that of the US government.
