Saturday, December 14, 2019

Top U.S. And Chinese Generals Are Doubling Down On Military-To-Military Diplomacy Over Tensions In The South China Sea

US Navy personnel pull down an American flag during a maritime exercise on the USS John S McCain in the South China Sea near waters claimed by Beijing in a file photo. Photo: AFP/Noel Celis

Richard Javad Heydarian, Asia Times: US, China step back from brink in South China Sea

Pentagon-PLA engage in telephone diplomacy while seeking new naval protocols to head off a brewing conflict

Top US and Chinese generals have recently doubled down on military-to-military diplomacy after months of rising tensions, as the two sides bid to head off conflict in the hotly contested South China Sea.

In recent weeks, the two superpowers have teetered on the brink of confrontation, including over an incident in which China reportedly intercepted US littoral combat ships roaming in Beijing-claimed waters.

Against the backdrop of a bitter trade war and diplomatic spats over pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, which China believes the US has covertly backed, the Pentagon and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) now seem determined to de-escalate on the South China Sea front.

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WNU Editor: I am not sure if this is going to work. China believes that its claims over the entire South China Sea are justified and non-negotiable, and that any entry into this region is a violation of its territory. With that point of view, how can you find a compromise?