Chinese Navy Commander to American Counterpart: A Small Incident Could Escalate to War

The commander of the Chinese Navy has warned his American counterpart that continued "activities" by the United States in the South China Sea could lead to a situation where "a small incident could ignite the flames of war" in the maritime region. These remarks were made during a video conference on October 30. The conference was held following the patrol of an American destroyer near islands claimed by China in the South China Sea. Admiral Wu Shengli, the commander of the Chinese Navy, and Admiral John Richardson, the operational commander of the U.S. Navy, discussed the situation in this video conference. According to a statement released by the Chinese military, Admiral Wu stated, "If the United States continues its dangerous provocations, the pressure situation between the frontline forces of both sides will seriously change, both at sea and in the air. Even a small incident could escalate into war." In this statement, the Chinese Navy commander added, "I hope the American side values the current good situation between the navies of the two countries, a situation that has not been easily created, and prevents similar incidents from occurring." This senior Chinese military official referred to the presence and patrol of the USS Lassen near islands in the Spratly archipelago. The U.S. claims it conducts patrols in the South China Sea in international waters as part of its routine operations. China, along with Southeast Asian countries from Vietnam to Taiwan and the Philippines, has territorial claims over islands in this sea. Control of these islands allows for control over one of the world's most vital economic waterways. Prior to Admiral Wu's comments, Admiral Richardson stated that both sides agreed during their negotiations to maintain dialogue and respect existing protocols to prevent potential confrontations. According to U.S. military officials, pre-arranged plans for meetings between both sides in ports and visits by senior U.S. Navy officials to China remain in place. The naval commanders of both countries have also emphasized the need to adhere to the "Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea," an agreement made in 2014 that is based on sending messages between the ships of the countries involved. The U.S. and China are among the 21 countries that have signed this agreement. Reports indicate that China is seeking to increase its presence and influence in the East Asia region, including the South China Sea, while the United States has increased its support for its allies and its presence in the region over the past years.