U.S.-China tensions escalate: Five signals of looming conflict
There are growing concerns that the strained relations between the U.S. and China could be a prelude to a potential military conflict. An expert points out five key signals that may indicate this. Recent weeks have seen an escalation in tensions with an open trade war and the imposition of massive tariffs on each other.
What you need to know
- Cyberattacks: China is intensifying attacks on American critical infrastructure, which could increase the risk of conflict.
- Tensions over Taiwan: The number of incidents in Taiwan's air defence identification zone has increased, suggesting possible aggressive plans by China.
- Trade conflict: Growing trade tensions between the U.S. and China could lead to an escalation of conflict.
Trade war and cyberattacks
In recent weeks, the United States and China have announced increasingly severe tariffs on each other. It's no longer just theorizing about a "new cold war"; it's the real initiation of a trade conflict, notes an expert quoted by "Bloomberg".
Trade tensions between the U.S. and China may be one of the most dangerous signals of an impending conflict. China is starting to restrict the supply of key raw materials, reminiscent of the pre-World War II situation, when trade sanctions led to the escalation of conflict in the Pacific region.
China is increasingly attacking American critical infrastructure with advanced offensive technologies. Programs like Volt Typhoon and Salt Typhoon target ports, airports, and other key facilities. - If the scope and consequences of cyberattacks rise, the risk of a wider war will increase commensurately - warns James Stavridis, former U.S. Navy admiral.
Tensions over Taiwan and actions in the South China Sea
The rise in the number of incidents in Taiwan's air defence identification zone is concerning. Last year, more than 3,000 such cases were recorded, nearly doubling those in 2022. This signals that China may be aiming to take control of the "rogue province", experts note.
- Monitoring the level of incursions into the Taiwanese Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) can provide a key indicator of China’s forward-leaning military strategy, - emphasizes Stavridis.
China claims rights to almost the entire South China Sea. Despite international opposition, Beijing is building artificial islands that serve as bases for the Chinese navy. These actions, including harassing coastal states like the Philippines, could be a source of potential conflict.
Chinese fleet grows in strength
China is building warships at an impressive pace, averaging 20-30 per year. The current Chinese fleet is larger than the American one, and Beijing has announced plans to have over 400 ships. According to experts, this suggests that China is preparing for a possible naval conflict with the U.S.
