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US naval operations near China could ignite conflict: Expert

Saturday, 29 August 2020 5:25 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 29 August 2020 5:25 PM ]

This US Navy photo obtained October 7, 2019 shows the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)(L), and the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 6) and ships from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group and the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group underway in formation while conducting security and stability operations in the US 7th Fleet area of operations on October 6, 2019 in the South China Sea. (AFP photo)

America’s naval operations in “waters claimed by China could end up with a very dangerous miscalculation on one side or the other,” a former American Senate foreign policy analyst has warned.

China’s military has warned of an unintentional military confrontation with the US if it does not halt its naval operations in the South China Sea, insisting that recent US activities in the region are instigating such hostilities.

The warning came after the spokesman for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) announced that a US warship had intruded into China’s territorial waters without authorization.

“We urge the US to stop such provocative behavior and restrict its maritime actions to avoid possible military accidents,” said Senior Colonel Li Huamin.

China warns of 'accidental' military confrontation with US

China warns the US of the possibility of "accidental" military confrontation if Americans don

James Jatras, a former Senate foreign policy adviser in Washington, told Press TV on Saturday that the United States conducts these “freedom of navigation missions” through waters claimed by China “to show that the United States does not accept China's claim, and is from our point of view, or the American point of view sailing through what are considered international waters that the Chinese claim as their own and essentially daring the Chinese to do something about it because as long as these missions continue to take place.”

“Despite the Chinese claim, the Chinese can regard their claim as having been basically negated or ignored, and it's up to them then take some forceful action to show the Americans that they mean business, that they really do consider these their waters and will enforce that,” he added.

“And I think that's what the United States thinking is here. The question is now for the Chinese, will they actually do something about it and what are the consequences of that, and that's where we could end up with a very dangerous miscalculation on one side or the other that has consequences far beyond what either side would want,” he continued.

“The question is, are the Chinese going to act on their warning? That's what Washington is daring them to do. The Chinese have given a warning. The Americans are essentially ignoring the warning. And the question is will the Chinese actually do something, knowing that it could lead to consequences that they do not want?” he asked.

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