U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Eli Ratner said “China’s actions in the South China Sea threaten a ‘major emergency’ in Asia and the Pacific and it will only be a matter of time.”

In his speech at a symposium at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, he noted that “over the past five years, the number of unsafe military operations by China to intercept (aircraft and warships) the United States of America and the number of its allies and partners legally operating in the United States increased. International airspace is mainly located over the South China Sea.

Ratner said: “Over the past few years, China has stepped up its efforts, primarily to establish control over the ocean, as well as to eliminate the central elements of the rules-based system,” adding that “Beijing is now showing a growing military power.” power to be more willing to take risks.

At the same time, he stressed that “the US does not seek confrontation or conflict with China,” adding that “Washington actively seeks to maintain open lines of communication with Beijing, including with the leadership of the Chinese military, to ensure the ability not to abuse appreciation.”