Expert: South China Sea “Accident” Could Spark Sino-U.S. War
Conflict more likely than at any point in last 20 years
by Paul Joseph Watson, Editor, Infowars, Prison Planet
Policy expert Michael Auslin
warns that an “accident” in the South China Sea could spark a Sino-U.S.
war and that conflict between the two superpowers is more likely than at
any point in the last 20 years.
In a piece for the Commentator,
Auslin, a former Associate Professor of history at Yale University,
explains the “three real-world scenarios” which could lead to a
confrontation.
The first is an accidental mid-air
collision in a repeat of the 2001 incident when a Chinese fighter and a
US Navy surveillance plane collided over Hainan Island, prompting an
international dispute.
“The US Navy is reportedly considering
sending ships within 12 miles of the manmade islands, thereby entering
into what China claims is now sovereign territory,” writes Auslin. “With
Chinese naval and maritime patrol vessels in the waters, intimidation
or harassment of US ships could lead to a collision, with each side
responding in turn.”
“This is what China has done to ships of other nations, and an accident could lead to a stand-off,” he adds.
Once China completes the
construction of airstrips on the islands, making it easier for fighter
jets to patrol the area, a collision becomes more likely, according to
Auslin.
The second scenario which could
spark a war involves China forcing a confrontation by closely shadowing
US planes in the hope that the Obama administration would back down
given its equally pressing problems in the Middle East and with Russia.
“China’s leaders may decide that
stopping American incursion into their newly claimed waters early on is
the best opportunity to make the risks to Washington seem too high,”
writes Auslin.
The third scenario involves China
intercepting planes belonging to U.S. allies such as the Philippines.
Washington could then legitimately intervene under the justification
that it is upholding international law.
“With no de-escalation mechanisms,
and deep distrust on both sides, the more capable China becomes in
defending its claimed territory, the more risks the US will face in
challenging those claims,” concludes Auslin, noting that, “The US and
China are now potentially closer to an armed encounter than at any time
in the past 20 years.”
Tension between the two
superpowers has been building in recent weeks, with The Global Times, a
state media outlet owned by the ruling Communist Party, warning yesterday
that “war is inevitable” if Washington doesn’t halt its demands that
Beijing stop building artificial islands in the South China Sea.
Last week, CNN revealed
how China’s Navy has repeatedly issued warnings to U.S. surveillance
planes flying over the South China Sea. Beijing is attempting to
increase its influence by building a series of man made islands in the
region.
Billionaire investor George Soros also recently cautioned
that the ruling Communist Party may see fit to rally its population
around an external threat in order to head off a societal collapse in
the aftermath of an economic implosion.
“There is a real danger that China
will align itself with Russia politically and militarily, and then the
threat of third world war becomes real,” said Soros. - Infowars
