Duringthe Australia-US-Japan security cooperation conference in Canberra on January31, Houston, who led the ADF from 2005-2011, also called for solutions toterritorial disputes in line with international law and preventing unilateralactions that threaten regional peace and stability.
Commentingon militarised islands, the former official warned of the likelihood of China’spermanent presence in the East Sea and expansion of its military presence tothe south near Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Heurged the US to maintain strong presence in the Indian Ocean and Pacific.
Meanwhile,former Japanese Defence Minister Satoshi Morimoto also expressed concern over policiestowards Asia-Pacific under the new US administration led by President DonaldTrump./.