The South China Sea continues to be a major source of contention between the U.S. and China, so much so that China is now threatening war!
China’s recent building of artificial islands and bases in the heavily disputed region has put the U.S. Navy in a very peculiar situation. This week, a U.S. vessel sailed within 12 nautical miles of one of China’s “islands.”
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This move infuriated the Chinese. In a teleconference with U.S. chief of naval operations Admiral John Richardson, Admiral Wu Shengli said:
“If the United States continues with these kinds of dangerous, provocative acts, there could well be a seriously pressing situation between frontline forces from both sides on the sea and in the air, or even a minor incident that sparks war…(I) hope the U.S. side cherishes the good situation between the Chinese and U.S. navies that has not come easily and avoids these kinds of incidents from happening again.”
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From Reuters:
China’s naval commander told his U.S. counterpart that a minor incident could spark war in the South China Sea if the United States did not stop its “provocative acts” in the disputed waterway, the Chinese navy said on Friday.
Admiral Wu Shengli made the comments to U.S. chief of naval operations Admiral John Richardson during a video teleconference on Thursday, according to a Chinese naval statement.
The two officers held talks after a U.S. warship sailed within 12 nautical miles of one of Beijing’s man-made islands in the contested Spratly archipelago on Tuesday.
Will China fire at a U.S. ship if we pass through the area again? Let us know in the comments below!
