China warns US war is 'inevitable' unless...

China warns US war is 'INEVITABLE' unless rival superpower halts meddling

THE United States has been warned that war with China is "inevitable" if it continues to meddle with the emerging superpower's activities.

By Rebecca Perring

In a new military white paper published today, China vowed to increase its focus on offensive capabilities rather than its current defensive stance.

Beijing highlighted a "grave and complex array of security threats" as the reason for the switch, including its ongoing territorial row in the South China Sea.

China is determined to complete its construction of artificial reefs in the internationally disputed waters, despite protests from neighbouring countries Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Under President Obama the US has repeatedly clashed with China over its building projects in the disputed Spratly Islands, whose sovereignty are claimed by a number of nations.

Washington believes the work is being conducted with the aim of strengthening China's claim to the vast majority of the South China Sea, increasing fears the movement of ships and aircraft in the region could soon be restricted by Beijing.

The Chinese military's white paper claimed the construction of the artificial reefs is the country's "most important bottom line".

The proposals also included a vow for China to step up its "open seas protection" in the South China Sea; its air force to shift from territorial air defence to both offence and defence; and the Chinese army to increase its mobility and artillery in order to improve its "medium and long-range precision strikes".

REUTERS

Chinese dredging vessels seen in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea

'We do not want a military conflict with the United States, but if it were to come, we have to accept it'

Coinciding with the publication of the white paper, an editorial in The Global Times – a tabloid newspaper mouthpiece for the ruling Communist Party – issued a warning to the US to halt its protests over the South China Sea.

Last week, China's foreign ministry revealed it had lodged a complaint with the US over an American spy plane that flew over parts of the disputed archipelago. 

The article read: "We do not  want a military conflict with the United States, but if it were to come, we have to accept it."

It added that China should "carefully prepare" for the possibility of war with Washington and that "if the United States' bottom line is that China is to halt activities, then a US-China war is inevitable in the South China Sea".

Despite last week's protest from China, the US has vowed to keep up air and sea patrols in the South China Sea. 

Speaking during a press conference in Beijing, spokesman for China's defence ministry, Yang Yujun, defended the country's policies in South China Sea.

He said development work was the same as building roads and homes on mainland China and that it would benefit "the whole of the international society". 

REUTERS

National Defence Senior Colonel Yang Yujun holds a copy of the annual white paper

 

The spokesman added: "From the prospective of sovereignty, there is absolutely no difference… some external countries are also busy meddling in South China Sea affairs". 

Security experts have warned there is a serious risk of an airspace incident near the Spratly Islands, which could escalate rapidly into a US-China military conflict. 

Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at the Japan campus of Temple University said: "I think the concern has to be that China misjudges the situation. 

"Neither party wants a war if it can be avoided, but there are red lines for both sides.

"I worry that if Beijing considers the US to be a declining power and assumes that Washington will back down if it shoots down a US observation aircraft". Read more on Express (UK)