Unless Beijing’s approach to the world changes, conflict will indeed be inevitable.
The United States Navy just delivered a multilayered message to the political leadership of the People’s Republic of China and the military leadership of the People’s Liberation Army.
In unprecedentedly frank public remarks by such a high-ranking military officer, Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, laid down some important markers for his PLA counterparts and their Chinese Communist superiors.
First, he repeated the oft-spoken assurance by U.S. officials from the president on down that “the U.S. seeks only peace and prosperity and stability, not confrontation” with China.“The service members in INDOPACOM and our civilian warriors spend every day working to prevent conflict, not provoke it. And they do that to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific for all nations,” the admiral said in his prepared speech.
Aquilino offered an open hand of professional cooperation with his Chinese counterparts to avoid miscommunication and accidents between American and Chinese naval and air units operating in close proximity in the East and South China Seas. He recited a litany of close calls and near misses between PLA and U.S. forces caused by “an increasing number of dangerous and escalatory actions against the U.S. and our allies and partners,” including “an event with a J-11 fighter that flew within 20 feet of the canopy of an RC-135, forcing the aircrew to take action to avoid collision.”
Aquilino then expressed frustration at the lack of response from the Chinese side. The cold shoulder treatment has risen all the way to the top of the military command, with China’s defense minister refusing to accept Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s call after the Chinese spy balloon incident.
Aquilino chose the annual meeting of the National Committee on U.
