Australia has decided to host a full US Marine task force next years on Obama request, Prime Minister Julia Gillard has declared at a news conference with US President Barack Obama in Canberra.
She said about 250 US Marines would arrive coming year, with the passage of time this figure will built up to 2,500 personnel.
The deployment is being seen as a move to counter China's growing influence.
But Mr Obama said the US was "stepping up its commitment to the entire Asia-Pacific", including China.
"The main message that I've said, not only publicly but also privately to China, is that with their rise comes increased responsibility," he said.
"It is important for them to take part by the rules of the road."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Weimin raised questioned whether the move was in keeping with the region's peaceful development.
"It may not be quite appropriate to intensify and increased military alliances and may not be in the interest of countries within this region," he was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.
The Global Times, a newspaper produced by the Communist Party-controlled People's Daily group, has been much more bellicose.
An editorial wanted it was "certain" that if "Australia uses its military bases to provide help the US harm Chinese interests, then Australia itself could be caught in the crossfire".
Luo Yuan, a senior officer at the People's Liberation Army's Academy of Military Sciences said to yhe news reporters that US or China do not start to start a war, "if China's core interests such as its sovereignty, national security and unity are intruded on, a military conflict will be unavoidable".
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