China has issued a stark warning to the United States that World War 3 is “inevitable” if the U.S continues to meddle in the activities of the emerging superpower.
The Daily Express reports that in a new military white paper published today, China has stated its intention to concentrate less on its defensive capabilities and to increase its focus on its offensive capabilities.
Beijing highlighted the reasons for its tactical switch because of a “grave and complex array of security threats.”
The threat of World War 3 is also being blamed on China’s continuing territorial row with the U.S regarding the construction of artificial reefs and other ‘projects’ in internationally disputed waters.
The construction by China of artificial reefs in the South China sea, and various building projects in the Spratly Islands has been a bone of contention with neighboring countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, who have all protested against China’s aggressive expansion.
Washington is convinced that China is conducting the work to strengthen their dominance in the South China Sea. The U.S also fear that such dominance will greatly restrict any movement of aircrafts and ships in the region without the express permission of Beijing.
President Obama has already clashed on a number of occasions with China about its building projects . Particularly those in the disputed Spratly Islands, whose sovereignty is claimed by a number of nations.
China’s military white paper basically states that the “most important bottom line” for the country is continued construction of these artificial reefs and suggests any more interference could result in World War 3.
Other proposals put forward in the paper also indicate that China could be preparing itself for World War 3. It is proposed that China increases its “open seas protection” and that in order to improve its “medium and long-range precision strikes,” the Chinese army steps up its mobility and artillery.
To add even more credence to the possibility of a global conflict, a paper favoured by China’s ruling Communist Party, the Global Times , run an editorial last week which warned that, “We do not want a military conflict with the United States, but if it were to come, we have to accept it.”
“China should carefully prepare for the possibility of war with Washington and that if the United States’ bottom line is that China is to halt activities, then a U.S-China war is inevitable in the South China Sea.”
Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at the Japan campus of Temple University is concerned that China has misjudged the situation and suggests China is perhaps not doing enough to avoid World War 3 and has underestimated the U.S.
“Neither party wants a war if it can be avoided, but there are red lines for both sides. I worry that if Beijing considers the U.S to be a declining power and assumes that Washington will back down if it shoots down a U.S observation aircraft.”
Despite the recent protests from China, the U.S has vowed to keep up air and sea patrols in the South China Sea.
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