I would argue with you, but I honestly think it's pointless, given how strong your views seem to be, which seem to lean towards the typical American opinion, which is simply to expand your own country's sphere of influence, and it's growing companies, which will probably turn your country into a kleptocratic corporatocracy.

And as much as you might not like it, Australia isn't our only ally in the region, and China isn't the only other nation Australia interacts with.

Well, obviously. It's a big world, and this region of the globe is one of the most regions, trade wise.

The 2nd & 3rd largest trading partners of Australia are Japan & the United States respectfully, with the United States being Australia's largest direct foreign investor.

Yes, but China is also heavily investing in Australia. By, say, 10 or so years from now they will probably be our largest foreign investor. Also, there is not much of a chance that China's economy is going to go belly up any time soon, unlike your country, which has been running major deficits for years now, and has been printing more and more money to make up for it.

And as I mentioned above, we have mutual defense pacts with Japan, South Korea, the Philippines & Singapore, with increasing defense cooperation with both India & Vietnam.

You literally didn't even mention that above, but okay..

You may be increasing defensive relations with India, but India is also a very independent country, militarily, so there isn't much hope of any major defensive pact between your country and India. The only reason your country has such large defensive pacts with the other countries you mentioned, is because America is the very reason that they have technologically advanced militaries in the first place. The strategy of allies for weapons will not work on independent countries such as India.

while distancing yourself from regional initiatives & a strong partnership with a rising Great Power in India, than by all means, be my guess.

Rejecting the idea of basing U.S ships in Australia will not harm our relations with any of the countries you mentioned, especially not India, given that we already have close relations, e.g. the recent large uranium deal that was established. Also what you have to realize is that our relations with Japan will not suffer due to your country sooking about us not being a tool to increase your international influence, as they also rely heavily on us for trade, so they're also not going to alienate themselves from us simply over us rejecting the idea of U.S ships. You would have to be pretty stupid to actually think that the interests of America are more important to those countries than their own interests.

United States will remain a Great Power & one of the most influential countries on the planet, especially in the Pacific.

Sorry to break it to you, dude, but as I said above, your country has been running deficits for years, and printing more and more money which you simply don't have, it's a fucking titanic waiting to happen, and I seriously hope my country steers far the fuck away from it.