US threatens military confrontation with China in South China Sea amid Modi's Beijing visit

 China who is being considered as the next superpower after United States ,is  being reborn as the world’s largest economy but is  facing many
challenges in the regional as well as on the global front.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in China at a time when  President Xi Jinping is engaged in redrawing the map of Asia with a greater vision for regional influence, staking  controversial territorial claims and enhancing Military budgets.

Meanwhile Russia who after Crimea annexation  continues to limp along to economic recovery because of tough sanctions  but still aspires to a regional power.

To contain China  in Asia ,U.S. is considering deploying surveillance aircraft and ships to contest Chinese claims to disputed islands in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is the subject of numerous territorial claims, with China, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam disputing sovereignty of several island chains and nearby waters.

This move is set to put US  directly into a  very contentious territorial contest in East Asia,which US has avoided for years.
China's airstrip in the South China Sea is on way to completion and this further escalates the tense showdown between Beijing, its neighbors, and the United States.
Washington has openly supported Japan's bid to become a more independent power in Asia, one that could serve as a counterweight to China and assist strategic allies such as the Philippines and Vietnam to cope with an increasingly precarious regional environment.
Modi's China  visit :
However,Modi’s China visit  at this juncture is mainly focussed on growing trade and economic ties  with China and no major breakthroughs are expected on  important  issues  like the boundary dispute over Arunachal,Chinese incursions,stapled visas,Sino-Pak submarine deal,China-Pakistan nexus etc.

The fact is Strategic regional rivalry exists between the two countries but Modi is being seen as adopting soft appraoch alonwith some stratgeic moves taken by India in 2015.

Modi and US President Barack Obama signed a joint statement on their "strategic vision for Asia-Pacific and the Indian Ocean region", including safeguarding maritime security, ensuring freedom of navigation especially in the South China Sea", and urging all parties "to avoid the threat or use of force".

Beijing is using all sorts of things: economic  projects like  'Silk Road Economic Belt"to roll out a network of Chinese infrastructure and strategic assets through Central Asia. And "Maritime Silk Road" in the Indian Ocean.

Modi is alo concerned with China's decision  is operating Gwadar port in Southwestern Pakistan with $200 million as a part of its  so called  “String of Pearls “ strategy,  which could potentially service PLA Navy vessels  to counter US .But the crucial point remains whether Islamic terrorism will allow China to execute its plans  to link  Gwadar  with Beijing via rail and connecting the port through Karakoram highway for  constructing a pipeline till Khunjerab pass boundary  of Gilgit-Baltistan and Xinjiang..

China  enlarging sphere of influence

Among the claimants and littoral states of the South China Sea (SCS), the Philippines and Vietnam have been the most vocal in expressing their alarm and concern over growing Chinese assertiveness in this strategic and resource-rich regional commons.

 Chinese President Xi Jinping even made a one-day stopover in Kazakhstan on way to Russia for the Victory Day celebrations. Kazakhstan holds strategic importance for China for getting China’s Silk Road Economic Belt off the ground

If we talk of Central Asia Republics,US and China have emerged as the two contenders to lead a consortium that will design, finance, construct, own and operate  the $ 10 billion TAPI gas pipeline.


But Central Asian republicans are wary of Chinese dominance over their  energy resource  which will ultimately translate into theit political influence .Particularly Turkmenistan which is the country in  question  do not wish to become an economic  colony of China .

 Chinese President Xi Jinping made a one-day stopover in Kazakhstan on way to Russia for the Victory Day celebrations. Kazakhstan holds strategic importance for China for getting China’s Silk Road Economic Belt off the ground .

China is seeking to  establish a permanent military base in Djibouti which already has France  and US military bases .Earlier, China has deployed warships in the Horn of Africa for counterpiracy missions and with a strategic objective to  solidify influence and further allow military projection into the Indian Ocean.