Kilili: Tensions with China to continue
Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) believes tensions between the United States and China would continue but it would not lead into a full-scale war between the two world powers. China has beefed up its presence in the disputed region of the South China Sea with the People’s Liberation Army, the country’s armed forces, installing weapons on some of the artificial islands.
U.S. airplanes and ships—either commercial or military—would continue to fly in the air space and use the sea route based on international laws.
China also protested last week’s move by President-elect Donald Trump when he talked on the phone with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen, breaking a 40-year diplomatic policy recognizing the former.
“There’s going to be tensions. There’s always growing tension in the South China Sea and in some of those islands, but I don’t see China and the U.S. going to war. But, you know an accident could always occur,” said Sablan.
“The U.S. would continue to travel the seas based on international laws. They had passed and traveled by the Spratly Islands, there are some U.S. ships that travel or pass by, [while] airplanes fly over the islands. There’s no cause of alarm. I don’t see China wanting to go to war with the U.S.,” he added.
Although China continues to invest in its military and other infrastructures, the country is still far from the technology the U.S. armed forces has “They are having problems with their economy. Their national debt is more than the U.S. and it is becoming a problem for them.”
“Politicians do this, those who run countries. They exert power outside [if] they have a problem in their country. That is just President Xi’s [Jinping] way of showing Chinese citizens that they are a super power. They continue to invest in their military and infrastructure, but they are still far away from the U.S. capabilities in weapons technology.”
The United Nations Arbitral Tribunal had already sided with the Philippines, coming out with a decision this year that it owns the exclusive sovereign rights over the region and ruled that China’s “nine-dash line” is invalid. China has not honored that decision.
The U.S. military has the Naval Base Guam and the Andersen Air Force Base in the Marianas’ southernmost island chain. The U.S. Air Force, last week had also signed a record of decision to use Tinian for the divert airfield and other military exercises.
“The divert airfield is just in case if there’s a typhoon in Guam, they would need to relocate their planes from Andersen to Tinian. Then they would use Tinian facilities. Then they would also have annual trainings, these are the reasons behind the divert,” Sablan said.
U.S. military bases have China surrounded. The Chinese, by contrast, have no bases anywhere but China and (sort of) the Spratley Islands. In terms of military expertise, the Chinese are way, way behind the US, and any war would obliterate most of their infrastructure. They are simply no match for us.
Still, the two countries need each other for trade, and many US companies have manufacturing facilities in China. So many American products are made in China that both sides want to keep the businesses thriving. Donald Trumps plan for a tax on Chinese imports would not be good for business, even though it is patently unfair to US.
Small example. A few years ago I bought a Chinese-made acoustic guitar, a “Silver Creek” brand. It was meant to be a copy of a Martin guitar, but at one tenth the price. ($250 instead of $2,500). It is a fabulous guitar. A tax or tariff on Chinese-made guitars would hurt their business.
As Kilili stated, the Chinese economy is already on the ropes (due mostly to mismanagement and graft); tariffs or taxes on Chinese-made goods would not be advisable at this time. Maybe later, if their economy recovers.
The only possible danger is if a Chinese warship fires on one of our ships. That could spark some nasty retaliation.
Last, it was wise for the US administration to tell the Chinese, “Keep the drone you stole.” Considering that when Bill Clinton was president he gave the Chinese access to a great deal of technical, highly-classified, data (in exchange for campaign contributions).
Even with the drone and classified data, the Chinese will probably never catch up with us. They are no real threat whatsoever.
Don’t underestimate the capabilities of the little guy.