Rising Tensions in the South China Sea... US-China Conflict Expands into Military Domain

Chinese Military Fires Warning Missiles Toward US... US Conducts Reconnaissance Over Chinese Military Training Areas for Two Consecutive Days
US State Department Sanctions 24 Chinese Companies and Individuals... First Measures Related to South China Sea

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Cho Young-shin] The conflict between the United States and China, which had hinted at the possibility of a thaw by confirming the implementation of the Phase 1 trade agreement, is instead expanding into the military domain. Tensions are gradually rising as territorial incursions and missile warning launches continue, centered around the South China Sea. In particular, the United States confirmed that China showed no intention of backing down by sending reconnaissance aircraft to the area again even after missile launches.

On the 26th (local time), the U.S. State Department announced sanctions against 24 Chinese companies and related individuals involved in the construction of forward bases for militarization in the South China Sea. While China-related individuals have previously been sanctioned over issues such as the spread of COVID-19, human rights, trade, security, and technology, this is the first time sanctions have been imposed over the South China Sea issue.

The sanctions were jointly imposed by the State Department and the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce included 24 companies such as China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) subsidiaries, Guangzhou Haige Communication Group, China Electronics Technology Group, and China Shipbuilding Group in the sanctions list. These companies were described as having "played a role in assisting the Chinese military's construction of artificial islands and militarization."

Separately, the State Department also began restricting visas for Chinese individuals involved in land reclamation, militarization, and resource access suppression in the South China Sea region. The State Department stated, "These individuals will not be allowed entry into the United States, and their immediate family members may also face visa restrictions."

The State Department's decision came after the Chinese People's Liberation Army launched two missiles, including the 'Dongfeng (DF)-26' missile known as the aircraft carrier killer, into the South China Sea the previous day. According to the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP), the DF-26 missile was launched from an area near Qinghai Province in inland China, and the DF-21 missile was launched from an area near Zhejiang Province on the coast. China set a virtual enemy and launched ballistic missiles, with the prevailing view being that the target was the United States.

On the same day, the U.S. military sent the 'Cobra Ball' RC-135S reconnaissance aircraft to the airspace over the South China Sea where China launched missiles to track ballistic missile launch signs and trajectories. According to China's state-run Global Times, the U.S. military sent reconnaissance aircraft to the Chinese military training area for two consecutive days, following the 25th.

Because of this, the possibility of military conflict is considered higher than ever. Military expert Song Zhongping told SCMP, "The missile launches send a clear signal to the United States," analyzing that "it is a show of force indicating that China will not back down on core interests such as Taiwan and the South China Sea issue."

Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, also criticized the U.S., saying, "Despite announcing the Chinese military's live-fire naval exercises, a U.S. U2 reconnaissance aircraft conducted surveillance in the area," calling it "a highly dangerous provocative act."

Even countries near the South China Sea, including Taiwan, are joining the U.S.-China confrontation. Taiwan decided to forward-deploy F-16 fighter jets to the Penghu Islands, close to mainland China, to prepare for accidental clashes. Forward-deploying F-16s to this island can reduce emergency response time by about six minutes.

Taiwan is also preparing for contingencies by deploying drones capable of 12-hour continuous flight to the Pratas Islands (Dongsha Islands), which it effectively controls, to monitor Chinese military movements.

Vietnam also expressed dissatisfaction with China's large-scale naval exercises.

Le Thi Thu Hang, spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on the 26th, "China's continued military exercises in the Paracel Islands (Chinese name: Xisha Islands, Vietnamese name: Hoang Sa Islands) infringe upon Vietnam's sovereignty and do not help maintain peace, stability, and cooperation in the area," demanding "the cessation of exercises in the area and a halt to repeated similar incursions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.