U.S. Admiral Concerned That South China Sea Incident Could Easily Escalate Into An All-Out War

Dispute Over Oil Rich Islands In South China Sea Could Escalate Into 'State-On-State Conflict', U.S. Admiral Warns -- Daily Mail

* Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all claim the Spratly Islands
* Disputed area is made up of more than 750 tiny islands with a total surface area of less than two square miles
* Area is believed to be rich with resources, particularly oil
* Chinese naval vessels fired on Vietnamese fishing boats in the area in May last year
* U.S. top commander in Pacific warns drive to seize more oil resources could result in conflict in the region

The U.S. Navy's top commander in the Pacific has said disputes over oil rich waters in the South China Sea could blow up into serious military confrontations.

Admiral Patrick Walsh said a diplomatic row between six Asian nations over the Spratly Islands could escalate into a 'state-on-state conflict' as countries attempt to seize new oil resources.

The South China Sea - which is heavily travelled by shipping companies, including tankers transporting oil from the Persian Gulf - is vital to the Asia-Pacific region.

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Update: AP Interview: US Navy commander concerned South China Sea incident could easily escalate -- Washington Post/AP

My Comment: The retiring Admiral's concerns are justified. Nationalism, a thirst for energy resources, miscommunication and miscalculation, heavy ship traffic with a heavy military presence from many countries .... yup .... a perfect mix for something going wrong very quickly.