The US military has included the remote Cocos Islands of Australia as one of the potential military construction sites, claiming that the islands are strategically located near China’s key oil shipping routes. Geopolitical analysts point out that the islands are crucial for the US to deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan.
According to a report by Reuters on Monday, the US military is implementing a series of military engineering projects in the Indo-Pacific region under the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) to counter China’s growing influence and military activities in the region.
The Pentagon proposed the Pacific Deterrence Initiative in April 2020 to deter Chinese threats in the Indo-Pacific region. The 2025 Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the Senate version of the defense budget, both passed on June 14, support continued funding for the initiative.
Darshana Baruah, head of security and geopolitics at the Australia India Institute at the University of Melbourne, testified before the US Congress last year, stating that the Cocos Islands would be a “key geographical location” for the US to pressure China and prevent an attack on Taiwan.
A report by Reuters mentioned that the US Navy listed the Cocos Islands as a potential project location in a construction tender for various base infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region released in June, indicating that the US military is seeking access to Indian Ocean territories.
Additionally, the Philippines, East Timor, and Papua New Guinea were also selected as possible locations for US military engineering projects. This move will help the US and its allies maintain military balance and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Public data shows that the Cocos Islands are located 3,000 kilometers west of the Australian mainland, in the Indian Ocean territory of Australia, comprising 27 coral islands with fewer than 600 residents.
The Cocos Islands are closer to the Malacca Strait, a vital route for Chinese oil transport, compared to the US Navy base on Diego Garcia, which served as a launching pad for bombers during conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Australian Defense Force stated that the islands are a stronghold for its surveillance operations in the Indian Ocean, as Chinese submarine activities in the region are increasing.
Reuters quoted Baruah, stating, “The Cocos Islands are closer to the battleground Washington anticipates conflict.”
A spokesperson from the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Pacific stated, “These projects may or may not support the rotation of US Marine Corps units in Darwin.”
Since the US and Australia reached an agreement to enhance joint military exercises, the US Marine Corps has been deployed to Darwin in northern Australia since 2012, using the base as a crucial defense point for the second island chain.
Approximately 2,000 US Marine Corps personnel stay at the military base in Darwin for six months each year. During their deployment, they engage in various training exercises with the Australian military to enhance joint operational capabilities and regional security readiness.
Reuters reported that the US military is constructing bomber runways and facilities at two key air force bases in northern Australia.
The Australian government previously announced plans to expand the airstrip on the Cocos Islands this year to accommodate heavier military aircraft, including the P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine patrol aircraft.