THE US dream of dominance over the South China Sea region will only lead to conflict with Beijing, an expert has warned.
The South China Sea is a heavily contested region where it faces rival ownership claims from China, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan. But the US has extended its military power in the area.
China is believed to be rapidly increasing its preparations to defend the region should it perceive the US to overstretch its interventions in the region.
Last month, Independence-class US Navy littoral combat ships were spotted patrolling the much-disputed region.
The US Air Force and Marines were also seen conducting training exercises in the area with three submarines joining ships and aircraft in the nearby Philippine Sea.
The actions were thought to be a reaction to Chinese harassment of ships drilling for resources in nearby waters
But Mark J Valencia, senior scholar at the National Institute for South China Sea studies, says the reason for the US military presence is to ensure its readiness in a number of contingencies.
In his column in the South China Morning Post, This is probably the real reason for the US military presence there – to maintain its regional hegemony.
China believes the US wants to constrain its rightful rise and thereby continue its hegemony in the region.
The South China Sea is at the cruz of their strategic contes
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