Beijing should change tack on South China Sea to avoid conflict with US, analyst says
- As relations deteriorate and Washington toughens its stance, the contested waterway is likely to be a flashpoint, regional security expert says
- Managing tensions with its Southeast Asian neighbours is seen as a key task
While policy advisers will be looking at different scenarios for the protracted struggle between the two superpowers in the region, managing tensions with its Southeast Asian neighbours was a key task for Beijing, according to Chen Xiangmiao, an associate researcher with the National Institute for South China Sea Studies on Hainan Island.
“If there is a maritime clash with [rival claimants] Vietnam, Malaysia or the Philippines, the US will have an excuse to step in, and that could trigger a direct military conflict between China and the US,” Chen said.
“[But] as long as the rival claimants can exercise restraint and don’t take sides between China and the US, I think the risk of conflict can remain under control.”
02:32
Washington’s hardened position on Beijing’s claims in South China Sea heightens US-China tensions