Trump Regime Provocations in South China Sea
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
US policy toward China and other sovereign independent countries is implacably hostile - what its imperial agenda is all about, seeking global dominance by whatever it takes to achieve it, war its favorite strategy.
There’s much about China to criticize, not its geopolitical agenda, seeking cooperative relations with other countries, at war with none - polar opposite how the US operates, permanently at war on humanity.
Hostile US actions leave China (and Russia) no choice but to prepare for possible war with America. Weeks earlier, President Xi Jinping ordered his nation’s military to boost its capability to meet all threats to the nation’s security, saying:
“It’s necessary (for China’s armed forces) to strengthen (their capability), concentrat(ing) preparations for fighting a war,” adding:
“We need to take all complex situations into consideration and make emergency plans accordingly.”
“We have to step up combat readiness exercises, joint exercises and confrontational exercises to enhance servicemen’s capabilities and preparation for war.”
Beijing considers US naval and aerial operations near its territory unacceptable provocations. Earlier, China’s Global Times said if US ships or aircraft “sail into or fly over China’s territorial waters, they will receive warnings from, and be expelled by, the Chinese side.”
US provocations happen with disturbing regularity. Washington abuses what freedom of navigation operations (FONOP) are all about, threatening other nations by intruding close to or in their waters and airspace.
Last year, the US Indo-Pacific Command (PACOM) developed a schedule for South China Sea naval patrols, claiming its freedom of navigation operations (FONOP) right.
Beijing justifiably considers intrusion of US warships and in or near its territory provocative. The G20 Sino/US agreement to continue discussing major differences for another 90 days changed nothing in bilateral relations.
Ahead of the summit, PACOM spokesman Nathan Christensen said the “USS Chancellorsville (guided-missile cruiser) sailed near the (Xisha) Islands to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law.”
A Chinese Southern Theater Command statement said the US warship provocatively sailed near Chinese waters without Beijing’s approval.
Chinese naval and air forces monitored the US warship, “warning” it to leave. “The theater command will continue close monitoring of the air and sea conditions to prevent the happening of events that poses a threat to national security.”
On Friday, day one of the G20 summit, ahead of Xi Jinping’s meeting with Trump on Saturday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing warned Washington with what he called “stern representations.”
People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater spokesman Li Huamin said the US was urged “to strengthen the management of its vessels and aircraft that pass by Chinese territory to prevent unexpected events.”
Russia and China are Washington’s main adversaries, the only nations powerful enough to challenge its imperial aims.
Unacceptable US provocations continue against both countries, risking perhaps inevitable confrontation between nuclear powers able to destroy each other many times over if things go this far.
It’s why Russia and China are preparing for possible US aggression against their countries. Washington’s permanent war policy makes the unthinkable possible.
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