South China Sea Military Build Up Could Escalate US-China Tensions
TEHRAN (Basirat)- A new report suggests that China has dedicated significant effort to militarizing outposts in the South China Sea, but the US remains ready to respond to further “aggressive” behavior.
A new report suggests that China has dedicated significant effort to militarizing outposts in the South China Sea, but the US remains ready to respond to further "aggressive” behavior.
Newly-surfaced images show a buildup of multiple defense bases in the Spratly islands, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, although China has promised not to install weapons on the artificial islands. Regardless of how China develops its regional bases, "we will not allow a shared domain to be closed down unilaterally," Admiral Harry Harris of the US Pacific Command fleet said during a speech in Sydney.
The new Chinese fortifications feature anti-aircraft guns thought to be a defense against cruise missiles, while China insists they are minimum defensive requirements, not part of a scheme to project power.
Newly-surfaced images show a buildup of multiple defense bases in the Spratly islands, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, although China has promised not to install weapons on the artificial islands. Regardless of how China develops its regional bases, "we will not allow a shared domain to be closed down unilaterally," Admiral Harry Harris of the US Pacific Command fleet said during a speech in Sydney.
The new Chinese fortifications feature anti-aircraft guns thought to be a defense against cruise missiles, while China insists they are minimum defensive requirements, not part of a scheme to project power.
Still, the US has high hopes to continue collaborating with China
and others in the region, as $5 trillion worth of goods transit the
maritime area annually. Beijing hopes the US will keep its promise to
not take sides, allowing regional partners "to maintain peace and
stability," according to Chinese Foreign Minister Geng Shuang.
In October, the US sent a warship through the South China Sea, the fourth operation of its kind calling it a "freedom of navigation" patrol near the land reclamation projects. And this week, China retaliated by flying a nuclear bomber over the South China Sea, presumably a demonstration of its military prowess toward the new US President who will be sworn in January.
In October, the US sent a warship through the South China Sea, the fourth operation of its kind calling it a "freedom of navigation" patrol near the land reclamation projects. And this week, China retaliated by flying a nuclear bomber over the South China Sea, presumably a demonstration of its military prowess toward the new US President who will be sworn in January.
US President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on taking a tougher
economic stance with China, but his appointment of Terry Branstad to be
the US Ambassador to China, a long-time friend of Chinese President Xi
Jinping, suggests that stable relations will continue.
