US-China tension could become confrontation as pressure builds in South China Sea, Taiwan Strait
- Washington and Beijing look set to remain at odds over Taiwan, observers say, but opinions differ on where the flashpoint will be
The risk of confrontation between mainland China and the United States over Taiwan is likely to grow next year as the self-ruled island leans ever closer to Washington in a bid to counter Beijing’s rise, observers said.
Speaking at a forum in Beijing, Chinese experts on military and diplomatic issues said they expected the South China Sea to continue to be the focus of the geopolitical conflict between China and the US, but that tensions could extend into the Taiwan Strait.
“There is a possibility that the United States will use tactics regarding Taiwan to counter China that it has never used since the establishment of China-US relations,” said Wu Xinbo, director of the Centre for American Studies at Fudan University.
“China has to think whether to take pre-emptive action to stop the US, or take measures after the US action.”
The US navy has already sailed its ships through the Taiwan Strait, with the latest visit involving the USS Stockdale and USNS Pecos on November 28. Washington said the exercises were intended to demonstrate its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.