US should prepare for a military confrontation with China, warns Pentagon official

Washington: Senior Pentagon official Chad Sbragia issued a grave warning that ‘The United States must prepare itself for an impending military conflict with China by developing new and advanced weapons, strengthening ties with allies and enhancing the efficiency of the defence forces. Improving military might will be a long-term process for the United States. The United States must remain agile and smart as the stakes of the challenge of conflict with China, in other words, are formidable.’

‘China’s People’s Liberation Army is gaining strength by the day. China is growing its military strength in line with its ambition to become the global superpower. Especially, the Chinese military activities in the Indo-Pacific region are a growing cause for concern’, Chad Sbragia, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for China said. Sbragia issued the warnings on the growing Chinese threat while talking to the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission.

Pentagon official, military confrontation, Chad Sbragia, weapon systems, modernisation of defence power, US, China, Philippines

Sbragia claimed that while China is expanding its military might around the world, the modernisation of defence power poses a challenge to the United States interests. In this scenario, the United States is required to develop super-advanced weapon systems. The United States will largely require hypersonic missiles, artificial intelligence, robots and laser weapons, Sbragia underscored.

Sbragia appealed that along with the sharpening of its weapons arsenal, the United States must also strengthen ties with its allies in the Indo-Pacific region as also keep developing new ones. ‘The United States will immensely benefit from such cooperation. It will become difficult for China to challenge such a US front’, Sbragia claimed. ‘At the same time, the Philippines’ withdrawal from military cooperation with the United States is a significant blow to the country. However, President Trump’s policies regarding the Indo-Pacific are unambiguous,’ Sbragia said.

Just as the senior Pentagon official issued the warnings, the Chinese activities in the South China Sea have also begun to rise. China has already deployed its destroyer near the Philippines marine limits. Now, China has used its patrol vessels at the Nutan and Paracel islands group. While criticising China’s move, Vietnam and Malaysia have also dispatched their patrol vessels for the marine region. The developments have sparked tensions in the area.

China claims sovereignty over the entire South China Sea. Nevertheless, the southeast Asian countries of Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines and Malaysia have contested China’s claims. The United States has supported the stand of the southeast Asian countries as even increased its waterborne and airborne patrolling in the region. In the last few years, China has made manoeuvres to challenge the movements of the warships and aircraft from the United States and its allies in the South China Sea. Furthermore, the Chinese PLA officials had also threatened to destroy the US aircraft carriers.

Considering the recent events, Chad Sbragia’s warnings for the United States to remain prepared for a military conflict against China, become significant.

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