The report, which no doubt is also intended as a warning, said the unexpected surge of hawkish fervor focused on Beijing out of Washington has only served to make the Chinese defense establishment respond in the same measure.
“Direct China-US military conflicts, or even the severance of diplomatic ties, which used to be unimaginable, are being discussed more frequently by the mainstream media outlets and scholars, so the danger of military conflicts exists and is growing,” Jin Canrong, associate dean of Renmin University of China’s School of International Studies in Beijing, was cited as saying.
He explained further “Unfortunately, there is [possibility of an armed confrontation]. Nobody wants it, and everybody would lose if a war erupts. But if you look at what happened in World War I, for example, it was started by a little event, and then the larger countries quickly became involved even though they had not planned to.”
The publication also emphasized the fact that both are nuclear armed, making large-scale war less likely in the end. But it cited a separate analyst to point out that “If there is a little scuffle in the South China Sea, it could soon escalate. And if the countries fail to control it, it could be devastating and everybody would lose. It is very scary.”
Also citing that the US Air Force and Navy has conducted at least 60 close proximity reconnaissance operations with large aircraft in the South China Sea, GT explored the likelihood of an “isolated” encounter which grows to a small then medium-sized conflict. Will all-out war then able to be contained? – it asked.
Beiing-based South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) told GT that we are much closer than ever before to such a possibility:
Rumors say the US could launch attacks on Chinese islands and reefs in the South China Sea, but “this is basically impossible, as the US knows this will lead to an all-out war,” Hu said.
However, the possibility of small and medium-sized clashes, which could involve ship collisions and occasional firing incidents, is rising, Hu said, noting that the uncertainties mainly come from the US, including its upcoming presidential election, influence of domestic hard-liners, and potential escalations of aircraft and vessel encounters in the South China Sea.
Another analyst quoted in the report said that it’s Taiwan that actually remains the most potentially explosive issue, given recent Congressional authorization to boost military support to the breakaway island.
This is because China simply won’t budge no matter the context and risk of war when it comes to Taiwan and the question of sovereignty: “But there is no room for Chinese policymakers to compromise on sovereignty and security issues. The US could face a direct military operation from the PLA if it provokes China,” the analyst said.
There’s no way the US would directly attack those islands. They’d get other nations to do the dirty work.
Nothing will happen
yup, our cowardly govt.[australia], japan & south korea will be bullied into it [probably the U.K also, once that 250 billion for military use is issued ’cause the god damned yank is a bloody coward & 26 trillion in debt
Your Hatred has blinded you to the truth! You hate the Satanist that run the world. Yet you blame the people that are just finding out that their votes don’t count when the counters just say what they want to be true and not the truth of the real count. I do understand where your hate comes from. You just are directing it at the wrong place.
This is all rhetoric and who’s got the biggest balls. I have limited my time on Southfront as I have come to find it does have bias, it seems to lean towards China and Russia and to demonise the West. I know the USA has had corrupt regimes in the last few decades but that is not what we have seen with the Trump regime. He has done some bad things for political purpose just like every country does but overall has not entered any new wars and just wants to build the American economy back up which will piss of China because of trade. China is trying to overtake USA as the global leader unfortunately I don’t not want to be lead by a communist regime and hope free market capitalism prevails. New wars are unfortunately now biological warfare nobody wins with nuclear warheads so it’d be pointless to start one.