Australia mulls role in US and China rivalry

The Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is in the US for talks with President Barack Obama and Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on regional security and China’s rising military presence in Asia.

Washington has more than 1,000 soldiers deployed in Australia and the countries have had close military ties for decades.

However, some say Australia should pursue a policy of strategic independence rather than strategic dependence.

Al Jazeera’s Andrew Thomas reports from Darwin in northern Australia.