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He warned that it was unclear how the situation in the South China Sea could escalate – or not.<\/p>\n
China has \u201cbuilt on disputed islands, intimidated fishermen, and harassed planes and ships from the US and elsewhere\u201d while claiming its sovereignty was threatened, according to AuCoin.<\/p>\n
He warned: \u201cIf a mishap were to happen with a US military or PLA asset, there would be conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, a US-Sino conflict was more likely to arise due to tensions over Taiwan, he believes.<\/p>\n
While the US would likely send military support to the Philippines in the event of a conflict with China, Washington is unlikely to step up in the same way it would if China invaded Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Tensions in the South China Sea are skyrocketing over an increasingly aggressive China which lays claim to huge swathes of territory in the region.<\/p>\n The two-week exercises dubbed Maritime Training Activity Sama Sama 2023 will include forces from Australia, Canada, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and Malaysia as well as the US and Philippines.<\/p>\n Although the exercises will take place on the Pacific Coast of the Philippines, the contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea are a mere 560 miles away.<\/p>\n It will focus on anti-submarine warfare, surface and air warfare as well as land exercises, according to the US Navy.<\/p>\n The planned exercises were launched just days after the Philippines dismantled a 980-foot-long barrier that was put in place by China at the entrance to Scarborough Shoal.<\/p>\n The President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos, said: \u201cWe\u2019re not looking for trouble, but what we\u2019ll do is to continue defending the maritime territory of the Philippines and the rights of our fishermen, who have been fishing in those areas for hundreds of years.\u201d<\/p>\n China administers the Scarborough Shoal which is also claimed by the Philippines – the placement of the barrier is another move by Beijing to control what it sees as its territory in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n AuCoin said: \u201cChina has already militarised at least three of several islands it built in the disputed South China Sea, arming them with anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems, laser and jamming equipment, and fighter jets in an increasingly aggressive move that threatens all nations operating nearby.\u201d<\/p>\n
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