The Pentagon's point man on the Asia-Pacific has said Boeing (Rockwell) B-1B Lancer bombers and surveillance aircraft would be deployed to Australia as the United States looks to firm up its regional military posture towards Chinese territorial claims. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs David Shear made the comments at a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on 14 May. Dubbed 'Safeguarding American Interests in the East and South China Seas', the session focused on the US's response to Chinese reclamation activities in the Spratly Islands. However, officials from both the United States and Australia have moved quickly to tone down Shear's comments.
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