US military luring E Asia allies to back its bid to confront China

A senior US military official is reportedly trying to lure American allies in the Asian Pacific region to boost their naval force in the South China Sea to support the Pentagon’s efforts to challenge China near its own territorial waters.

Warning that “the communists” intent to establish military bases in the South Pacific, US Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs Randy Schriver called for the military backing of Washington’s regional allies in a recent interview with The Australian daily as cited in a Saturday report by the pro-military Star and Stripes newspaper.

According to the report, Beijing is engaged in “influence operations” in the South Pacific, “which have included donations to politicians and financing infrastructure projects in small island nations.” It further claimed that such moves have “caught the attention” of officials in Australia and New Zealand.

"I think what could potentially bring more pressure on the Chinese is other partners and allies joining in these activities [in the South China Sea]," Schriver said in the interview. "If not freedom-of-navigation operations ... just joint patrols, presence operations."

"There have been several public accounts of Australian activities in the South China Sea and some of the assertive challenges [to Australia] from China," Schriver further asserted.

The American military official also emphasized that other US allies, including Britain, France and Canada, have heightened their military activities in the South China Sea as well.

"We've seen a lot more activity from other interested parties because I think there is recognition that an erosion of international law and norms in the South China Sea has implications globally," he went on to claim.

The report points out, however, that unlike Western powers, Japan's relations with China are continuing to improve, further noting that Australia and New Zealand also remain Beijing’s major trading partners and need to balance to balance their economic and military ties.

This is while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed with Chinese President Xi Jinping in October to resume mutual naval visits. Moreover, local press reports recently stated that Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force may join the Chinese navy's fleet review in April.

In the past year, American warships have been involved in the so-called “freedom-of-navigation operations” aimed at challenging what they claim as Chinese territorial ambitions and build-up of military facilities on disputed islands in regional waters.

A Chinese warship almost collided with American destroyer, the USS Decatur, last August near the disputed Spratly Islands.

As part of Washington’s emerging policy of confronting China in all fronts, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described China last October as the biggest national security challenge facing the US, insisting that the current administration in Washington is pushing back against China “on all fronts.”

PressTV-Pompeo: China biggest national security challenge for US

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says China is the biggest national security challenge facing Washington.

In a radio interview on October 31, Pompeo claimed Washington was engaged in a multi-pronged effort to convince Beijing to behave like a “normal nation.”

The top US diplomat further claimed that China’s stealing of intellectual property has cost the US hundreds of billions of dollars.

“It is a multi-pronged effort on behalf of all of the United States Government, at the President’s direction, to convince China to behave like a normal nation on commerce and with respect to the rules of international law,” he said.

The former commander of the US Army in Europe also warned in October that it was very likely the United States and China would be engaged in a military conflict within the next 15 years.

PressTV-US war with China likely in 15 years, retired general says

The former commander of the US Army in Europe warned Wednesday that it's very likely the United States will be at war with China in 15 years.

Retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges said on October 26 that European allies would have to do more to increase their military capabilities in face of a resurgent Russia because America will need to focus more attention on defending its interests against China.

"The United States needs a very strong European pillar. I think in 15 years — it's not inevitable — but it is a very strong likelihood that we will be at war with China,'' Hodges told a packed room at the Warsaw Security Forum, a two-day gathering of leaders and military and political experts from central Europe.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk