China has issued a strong warning to the United States over rising tensions in the South China Sea, signaling it is prepared to respond if Washington “stirs up any conflict” in the disputed waters.
During a briefing in Beijing, Liu Zhenmin, China’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that while China does not seek war, it will defend itself if pushed. “The Chinese people do not want war, but if the U.S. provokes conflict, we will be opposed,” Liu said, referencing historical confrontations such as the Korean and Vietnam wars.
China continues to assert sweeping territorial claims over the South China Sea through its controversial “nine-dash line,” which extends roughly 1,200 miles from its coast. Control over this area would give Beijing influence over a maritime zone that handles nearly half of global merchant shipping, one-third of the world’s oil trade, two-thirds of liquefied natural gas shipments, and over 10% of global fish resources. The United States and several Asian governments argue that such extensive claims violate international law, particularly under the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Beijing has strengthened its military presence in the region by constructing artificial islands and airfields, while U.S. naval forces continue to carry out freedom-of-navigation patrols alongside regional allies such as the Philippines. Recent incidents, including the interception of a U.S. reconnaissance plane by Chinese fighter jets, have further escalated tensions.
Liu criticized the U.S. for what he described as efforts to encircle China with military bases and accused Washington of unfairly blaming Beijing for instability in the region. He insisted that cooperation, not confrontation, offers greater benefits for both sides.
Experts note that China’s maritime claims are unprecedented. Alessio Patalano, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, stated that no historical example matches the scale or scope of China’s attempt to project power across such a vast expanse of open ocean.
The dispute extends beyond China and the U.S., impacting neighboring nations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, whose exclusive economic zones overlap with China’s claims. Additionally, China’s expanding fishing operations increasingly encroach on regional waters.
A ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the legality of China’s territorial claims is expected soon, though Beijing has already rejected the tribunal’s authority.
