Huangyan Island (Photo : YouTube)
Aside from a looming trade war between the two largest economies of the world, the rivalry between the U.S. and China could soar to new heights with growing tensions over the disputed South China Sea. The Chinese government plans to place a new aircraft carrier in the said area.
The aircraft carrier, provisionally named the Shandong, will be set on a site in the disputed waters. The announcement comes after Washington pledged to challenge Chinese occupation in the transport route.
Last month, China released a five-year plan to develop research on clean energy by establishing a research center in the South China Sea. This was a sign of the country's increasing influence over the disputed waters.
The placement of the new vessel will raise questions of the intention. No one is quite sure yet if it's intended to be a show of force over Taiwan. But this move could also be interpreted as a warning to China's rivals in the region, which includes Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
This week, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the U.S. "is going to make sure that we protect our interests there."
"We're going to make sure that we defend international territories from being taken over by one country," he added.
Another U.S. official is also advocating a tough stance on the dispute. During his Senate confirmation hearing, Trump's pick for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that the U.S. should deny China access to the islands.
In response to the U.S. officials' statements, Beijing Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying warned the U.S. to keep out of the dispute. She said that China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea and is committed to safeguarding it.
Exhaust Diplomatic Efforts
While Tillerson advocated a tougher stance on the issue, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis would like to go the other way, saying that diplomatic efforts should be exhausted to resolve the dispute.
"What we have to do is exhaust all efforts, diplomatic efforts, to try and resolve this properly. Our military stance should be one that reinforces our diplomats," said Mattis. He added that at this time, they do not see any need for dramatic military moves at all.
From how things are going, tensions will continue to rise especially if the U.S. continues to involve itself in the dispute. To prevent any unnecessary sacrifices, perhaps the right way to go is for the claimant countries to resolve the dispute through diplomacy and cooperation.
