US President Barack Obama has been addressing the Australain Parliament. He said the US military will expand its role in the Asia-Pacific region, regardless of planned military cutbacks in other parts of the world.

The US will play a larger and long-term role in shaping the region and its future.

Obama said, "So, here is what this region must know. As we end today's wars, I have directed my national security team to make our presence and mission in the Asia Pacific a top priority. As a result,reductions in US defence spending will not, I repeat, will not come at the expense of the Asia Pacific. The US is a pacific power and we are here to stay. Indeed, we are already modernising America's defence posture across the Asia Pacific. It will be more broadly distributed, maintaining our strong presence in Japan and the Korean peninsula, while enhancing our presence in South-East-Asia."

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