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STORY: Australia announced a significant boost to its military air power on Friday (May 3) and committed to long-term plans to buy up to 100 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 Joint Strike Fighters as it shifts its military strategy back to the Indo-Pacific region.
After more than a decade of having forces first in Iraq, and then Afghanistan, Australia wants to focus on the military challenges closer to home, in line with U.S. President Barack Obama's 2011 "pivot" towards the Asia-Pacific.
In a new defence strategy released on Friday, Australia reinforced that the United States remains its closest ally, but also had a conciliatory tone towards China, Australia's top trading partner, noting its rising defence capabilities are a natural outcome from its growing economy.
"We also recognise that China's rise and its subsequent military modernisation is changing the strategic order of our region, and that the U.S.-China relationship is pivota
