Sosok.ID – Political experts have expressed concern over a potential World War III outbreak after potential Pentagon leader Joe Biden’s team claimed the United States should be able to “sink all” Chinese ships within 72 hours to increase deterrence.
Express.co.uk reports, Michele Flournoy, previously a deputy defense minister in the Obama administration, has been appointed as a candidate for Secretary of Defense under US President-elect Joe Biden.
Still quoting Express.co.uk, as a result of Beijing’s strong belief in the decline of United States power, Flournoy proposed that the US should step up deterrence in the region to counter the stigma.
“For example, if the US military has the capability to credibly threaten to sink all Chinese military ships, submarines and merchant ships in South China Sea within 72 hours, China’s leaders may think twice before, say, launching a blockade or invasion of Taiwan; they have to wonder if it’s worth risking their entire fleet, ”wrote Flournoy.
Recently, he also reiterated his anti-Chinese stance and his desire for a stronger American defense in the Indo-Pacific.
In an interview with Defense News, Flournoy said: “We must have sufficient advantage, first and foremost we can prevent China from attacking or jeopardizing the vital interests of us and our allies. It means determination. “
But the former deputy minister also wanted a change from the Trump administration’s “opaque” view of China, and expressed a desire for some cooperation between Beijing and Washington.
“There are a series of threats, whether it’s preventing the next pandemic, or tackling climate change, or dealing with North Korea’s nuclear proliferation where, like it or not, we have to deal with China as a partner or we can’t solve the problem,” he said.
On the other hand, observers have cooled off Flournoy’s proposal for a large US Navy presence in the South China Sea, saying China is ready to retaliate if the US massively increases maritime deterrence.
Wu Xinbo, director of the Fudan University Center for American Studies told the South China Morning Post: “Such threats can hardly work, because the PLA has taken direct American intervention into account when planning military operations in Taiwan.”
Collin Koh, a researcher from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University, has predicted the attitude of Flournoy and the new Biden government towards China.
“Regardless of who is in the White House, the ability to maintain deterrence is credible and if necessary, defeats aggression [Tentara Pembebasan Rakyat] against Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, will be seen as an agreement, “Koh said as quoted Express.co.uk.
Biden, after beating Trump in the US presidential election, has made it clear that he will be firm on China in the same way as his predecessors.
During the Democratic campaign, he denounced Chinese President Xi Jinping as a “thug” and promised to lead an international campaign to “suppress, isolate and punish China.”
Biden was also brutal in his assessment of China’s detention and treatment of Uighur Muslims, whom he considered “genocide”.
But the former vice president is also expected to pursue US “national interests” and collaborate with China on climate change policies.
Under the Trump administration, Washington has increased pressure on Beijing in the South China Sea.
Also Read: US Claims Vietnam Is Acting As An Anti-China Stronghold, Beijing Spray Washington: Don’t Dream!
Mike Pompeo, Trump’s Secretary of State, slammed China’s claims to “sovereignty” over the disputed waters.
“We emphasize that Beijing’s claims to offshore resources in large parts of the South China Sea are completely against the law, as is the oppressive campaign to control them.”
As part of this anti-China policy, the US has also increased arms sales to Taiwan this year, angering Beijing.
In 2020, the US sold US $ 4.981 billion worth of weapons and vehicles to Taiwan, of which the most recent transaction was 100 Harpoon Coastal Defense Systems for US $ 2.37 billion.
This article was published on Kontan.co.id with the title
– “Worried that World War III might break out, the US will challenge China in the South China Sea”
military news
