By Chris Buckley

BEIJING| Wed Nov 30, 2011 12:43pm EST

(Reuters) – China’s military denounced the United Statesand Australia on Wednesday for upgrading military ties, warning that such moves could erode trust and fan Cold War-era antagonism.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng made the warning about a plan unveiled in mid-November by U.S. President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard to form a de facto base in northAustraliafor up to 2,500 U.S. Marines.

Geng’s comments came on the same day Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd was reported as backing the formation of a security pact withIndiaand theUnited States, another step that could fuelChina’s worries of being fenced in by wary neighbors.

“Military alliances are a product of history, but we believe any strengthening and expansion of military alliances is an expression of the Cold War mentality,” Geng said in answer to a question about the U.S.-Australian announcement, according to a transcript on the ministry’s website (www.mod.gov.cn.).

“This is not in keeping with the tide of the era of peace, development and cooperation and does not help to enhance mutual trust and cooperation between countries in the region, and could ultimately harm the common interests of all concerned,” he said.

“We hope that the parties concerned will do more that is beneficial to the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region, and not the contrary.”

But the Chinese spokesman indicated thatBeijingwas not shunningWashington. Chinese andU.S.defense officials, led by Under Secretary of Defense Michele Flournoy, will hold talks inBeijingnext Wednesday, Geng told the briefing.

Earlier this month, Obama told Asia-Pacific leaders that the United Stateswas “here to stay,” announced the plans to set up the de facto military base in north Australiaand chided China for trying to prevent discussion of itsSouth China Sea territorial disputes at regional forums.

The Chinese Ministry of Defense is the public mouthpiece of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), but foreign reporters are not allowed to attend its briefings.

COOPERATION OR CONFRONTATION?

Although falling short of full-throated condemnation of the U.S.-Australian move, Geng’s words were tougher than earlier reaction fromChina’s Foreign Ministry, which saidWashingtonandCanberrashould focus on cooperating withBeijing.

Geng said the idea raised byU.S.and Australian officials of advancing “integrated air and sea combat” amounted to “trumpeting confrontation and sacrificing others’ security for the sake of one’s own security.”

Chinese President Hu Jintao has made clear that he wants to avoid repeating the rifts that soured ties withWashingtonin the first half of 2011. Hu retires from power late next year, when theU.S.is focused on its presidential race, makingChina’s leaders especially reluctant to risk distracting rows.

Beijingis also still licking its wounds from last year, when loud maritime disputes with Japan,Vietnam, thePhilippines and other neighbors fanned suspicions aboutChina’s intentions.

Chinese military officers have, however, sometimes taken a tougher stance on security worries than civilian officials.

Earlier this week, PLA Major General Luo Yuan, well-known for his hawkish views, warned that Obama’s regional push showed that theUnited States wanted to encircleChina.

The comments from Australian Foreign Minister Rudd could also magnify such fears among Chinese observers.

A new trilateral pact bringing inIndiainto a U.S.-Australian security tent was worth exploring because “from little things big things grow,” Kevin Rudd said in an interview with the Australian Financial Review newspaper.

“The response from the Indian government has really been quite positive,” said Rudd.

The idea of an Australian, Indian and U.S. trilateral security dialogue, in part to counter China’s rising might, has been pushed by a trio of think-tanks in all three countries, but has yet to be adopted by any government.

At a briefing inBeijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei did not comment directly on Rudd’s statement.

“Chinahopes that countries in the region will do more to promote regional peace, stability and development,” Hong said in answer to a question about the proposal.

India’s Foreign Ministry did not comment on Rudd’s statement. But Indian analysts saidDelhiwas likely to be cool on the idea, partly out of reluctance to risk rilingChina.

“The Indian political establishment has always been wary of the idea of a military alliance,” said Uday Bhaskar, the head of the National Maritime Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank.

“Reuters“, Jan 26 2012