Howard's U.S. visit to boost alliance

Prime minister Howard says meeting will futher strengthen Australian-U.S. ties

By CNN's Grant Holloway and wire services

CANBERRA, Australia -- Australian prime minister John Howard, who has backed controversial U.S. administration positions on Taiwan, the environment and missile defense, will visit president George W. Bush in Washington in September.

"The president and I will be reaffirming the strength and the relevance of the alliance, which underpins the very close and very broad security relationship between our two countries," Howard said in a statement.

The September 10 visit will coincide with the 50th anniversary of Australia's security alliance with the United States.

Howard said the talks with president Bush, senior officials, members of congress and business leaders would be wide-ranging.

"We will be exchanging views on a range of political and security concerns, and on ways to enhance our economic and trade relations," Howard said.

He said the visit would promote closer personal links and "further strengthen Australian-American ties".

Australia and the U.S. have just completed a month of joint military exercises called Tandem Thrust, which involved more than 18,000 troops and included extensive use of the experimental U.S. unmanned spy plane Global Hawk.

Possible Australian role in defense shield

U.S. spy plane Global Hawk was in Australia last month for joint military exercises

Australia is one of the few countries which has openly supported U.S. proposals to build a system to intercept strategic missiles, which Washington says could be developed to protect U.S. allies.

Australia may play a role in the proposal by building up its monitoring facilities to detect missile launches in Asia. The two countries already jointly operate the Pine Gap space research facility in central Australia, which could be adapted for use in a missile defense strategy.

The Australian opposition Labor Party however, which hopes to oust Howard's Liberal Party in elections expected late this year, has criticized missile defense as less important in Australia than maintaining good relations with China and the region.

China vehemently opposes the missile defense proposals as threatening the concept of deterrence that has kept nuclear peace for 50 years.

Opponents of the missile defense plan launched a global campaign in Australia Tuesday featuring a letter of opposition signed by 610 organizations and parliamentarians. The letter will also feature in campaign events Tuesday in London and Washington.

Stance upsets China

The Howard government has also upset the Chinese over its support for president Bush's outspoken pledge to defend Taiwan against attack made soon after he assumed office.

And environmental groups and politicians have attacked the government for expressing its "understanding " for the Bush administration rejection of the Kyoto Protocol on global warning, which set limits on greenhouse gas emissions by major industrial states but not developing nations such as China.

Howard is expected to call an election in November or December this year, following the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held in early October in Brisbane, Australia.

Howard's coalition of conservative parties currently traisl the opposition Australian Labor party in opinion polls on voting intentions and would be thrown out of office if those polls prove accurate.

Reuters contributed to this report.