U.S. Commander Of The Pacific Fleet Warns Of China's Strategy To Control The South China Sea

US Pacific Fleet Commander Scott Swift. Photo: Xinhua

The Australian: South China Sea: Scott Swift, commander of the US Pacific Fleet sounds alarm

Growing alarm about China’s “aggressive” activities in the South China Sea is provoking an unprecedented military build-up in the region, the commander of the United States’ Pacific Fleet has warned.

Admiral Scott Swift, one of the US Navy’s most senior commanders, said the acceleration of China’s “disruptive activities” in contested waters was causing widespread anxiety in the Indo Pacific region.

Combined with a lack of transparency around China’s behaviour, other Asia Pacific nations had responded by spending more on their own military build-up.

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Update #1: US says losing access to China-claimed waters would be huge (AP)
Update #2: US Navy admiral accuses Beijing of ‘might makes right’ attitude over South China Sea (South China Morning Post)
Update #3: U.S. Pacific Fleet Head Warns of Economic Risks in South China Sea (WSJ)

WNU Editor: These warnings are too late now. Almost every country in the region is now pursuing a military build-up, and U.S. concerns are not being listened to.