U.S. Pacific Fleet commander warns of arms race in S. China Sea region

Special to WorldTribune.com

China’s military buildup, including the construction of several airstrips on artificial islands, could lead to an arms race in the South China Sea, the commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet said.

“My concern is that, after many decades of peace and prosperity, we may be seeing the leading edge of a return of ‘might makes it right’ to the region,” Adm. Scott Swift said on Dec. 14 in a speech in Hawaii.

Adm. Scott Swift. /Reuters
Adm. Scott Swift. /Reuters

“Claimants and non-claimants alike are transferring larger shares of national wealth to develop more capable naval forces beyond what is needed merely for self defense,” Swift said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei responded to Swift’s comments by saying: “Certain countries are exaggerating tensions in the South China Sea region, which is in reality to create confusion and meddle in the South China Sea. China is resolutely opposed to this.”

China’s Defense Ministry said some countries were intent on putting on “a big show of force” in the South China Sea and are “wantonly expressing remarks to create tensions, in an attempt to sow confusion and muddy the waters.”

Beijing claims most of the South China Sea as its territory. More than $5 trillion of world trade transits the South China Sea each year, a fifth of it heading to and from U.S. ports.

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