Washington/Canberra | More US bombers, fighter jets and surveillance planes will be deployed to Australia as work continues on enhancing a ring of military bases spanning the coastline from Perth to Townsville available to US forces in a potential war with China.

Hours after Australia and the US slammed China’s “dangerous and escalatory” behaviour in the South China Sea following annual defence and diplomatic talks, military chiefs announced that Australian, US and Canadian warships and aircraft would join Filipino forces for two days of maritime drills in the contested waters.