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As expected, China finally reacted to this week’s Ankus deal announcement between USA, UK and Australia with evident anger
To challenge the Chinese military expansion in the Indi-Pacific region, on Monday in San Diego – Australia, The UK and the US came together to announce the details of a broad defence and security alliance.
Since the announcement of the nuclear submarine Beijing has raised several accusations against the trio stating that the trio is going down a dangerous road, they are disregarding the concerns of the international community, by creating a nuclear submarine they are risking the new arms race and nuclear expansion.
Since Nancy Pelosi, the US Congressional leader made a controversial visit to Taiwan, China last summer, It has shown immense dissatisfaction with Western actions.
China, the most populated country in the world with the biggest army and navy, claims that the US and its allies in the western Pacific are beginning to “shut in”. President Xi Jinping responded by declaring that China will speed up the growth of its defence budget and that national security would be the main issue in the upcoming years.
Hence, it should come as no surprise that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak talked this week about the upcoming dangerous decade and the need to prepare for the escalating security problems.
The reason behind the Pacific war between China and the US and its ally’s imminent
The West misread China, as they say. Years ago, foreign ministries made the naive assumption that it’s economic liberalization would automatically result in a social opening and increased political freedom. The assumption was that as western multinational corporations established joint ventures and hundreds of millions of Chinese people started to live in better conditions, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would gradually loosen its hold on the populace, permit some modest democratic reforms, and join the so-called “rules-based international order” as a full participant. But that’s not how things turned out.
Certainly, the country has grown to be a worldwide economic powerhouse, a crucial link in the supply chain, and the main trading partner for nations all over the world. Beijing, however, has taken a route that has frightened both Western countries and many of its neighbours, including Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, instead of coupling this with a change toward democracy and liberalization.
China has pledged repeatedly to conquer Taiwan, an independent island using force if necessary. Although official US policy does not commit to taking military action, US President Joe Biden has declared that the US will come to its defence.
In violation of international law, China has recently utilized South Sea’s vast fleet to colonize portions of the Sea and claim it as its territory.
China is being accused more and more of secretly collecting enormous amounts of personal data and stealing intellectual property to its advantage.
Beijing has successfully suppressed democracy in Hong Kong, punishing campaigners with harsh prison terms.
About China’s Military
China is a significant threat to compete militarily at the moment. Its People’s Liberation Army has advanced significantly in recent years in terms of both numbers and technology and innovation. For instance, it’s Dong Feng hypersonic missiles, which may reach speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), are capable of carrying either a nuclear or high explosive warhead. This is making the US Navy’s 7th Fleet, which is located in Yokosuka, Japan, reevaluate how close it is willing to sail to China’s numerous missile sites on land.
China has also started a quick expansion program for its nuclear ballistic missiles, intending to triple the number of warheads it now has while constructing additional silos in far-flung western territories.
None of this though, suggests that China intends to go to war. There isn’t. It would much rather apply enough pressure on Taiwan to force its capitulation and submission to Beijing’s leadership without exchanging a single shot. It is aware that criticism of Hong Kong, the Uyghurs, and intellectual property will eventually wane since commerce with China is simply too significant for the rest of the world.
Notwithstanding the current high level of tension and the possibility of future flashpoints, both China and the West are aware that a conflict in the Pacific would be disastrous for everyone involved and would serve no one’s interests whatsoever.
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