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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nat...or-link-to-china/story-fn59niix-1225909608536
IN a move that has set alarm bells ringing in Canberra, East Timor yesterday foreshadowed closer military ties with China.
It follows the handover in June of two 43m Shanghai class patrol boats which East Timor purchased for $28 million.
In a speech which appeared to take issue with Australian defence co-operation, East Timor's Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao praised Beijing for its generous aid program, saying his government was keen to forge closer military links with China.
Senior diplomatic analysts told The Australian China's foray into what has been traditionally regarded as "Australia's sphere of interest" had set alarm bells ringing in Canberra.
Australia has always been edgy about great powers establishing strategic positions in the neighbourhood, said Professor Hugh White, a former deputy secretary in the Defence Department who is now head of the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at ANU.
"It's contrary to a very deep intuitive sense we have of our strategic interests. And I don't doubt for a moment Australia will be very nervous about this," Professor White said.
If a future US-China relationship became more competitive with the region divided into pro-US and pro-China blocs, Beijing's strategic military presence in East Timor could pose a serious challenge for Australia, he said.
China's growing military footprint in East Timor also raises worries about Canberra's handling of its multi-million defence program with East Timor, a program Dili regards as excessively conditional.
Australia has provided Dili with more than $1 billion in aid since the historic 1999 UN-brokered ballot for independence from Indonesia.
In a further snub to Australia, East Timor has sought closer economic relations with pariah state Burma and wants to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group after expressing support for Fiji coup leader Frank Bainimarama.