One of America's top military commanders has told a US-Australia event at Pearl Harbour that China is attempting to dominate the Indo-Pacific by "greasing the region with money like no other adversary we've ever faced".
Admiral Philip Davidson, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, outlined at the "100 years of mateship" ceremony what he described as the region's profound security threats.
Australian Ambassador to the US Joe Hockey was among the dignitaries at the event where Australian and US sailors stood aboard the HMAS Hobart at the Hawaiian military base and were served seared kangaroo skewers and Tasmanian salmon.
"I will be totally transparent with you," Admiral Davidson told the gathering on Tuesday, according to Stars and Stripes.
"China is moving around the region with an open pocketbook, greasing the region with money like no other adversary we've ever faced."
The admiral listed terrorists in the Philippines and the North Korean regime as other threats faced by the US and allies in the Indo-Pacific.
It is 100 years since Australian and US armed forces first fought side by side in Europe during World War I.
The HMAS Hobart, Australia's newest warship and on its first foreign port visit since it was commissioned a year ago, was docked beside the USS Wayne E Meyer for the Pearl Harbour ceremony.
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