China could take advantage of the Ukraine crisis to make a “provocative move” in Asia at a time when Western powers are busy escalating tensions with Russia, a US general has warned.
Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, commander of the U.S. Air Force in the Pacific, said Beijing’s support for Russia in its confrontation with the West raises questions about China’s intentions in Asia.
“Yes, we wonder if China will see what is happening in Europe and (…) try to do something in the India-Pacific region, it really is a concern,” Wilsbach told reporters on the sidelines of the Singapore Air Show.
“I’m worried that they might want to take advantage of the situation.” “It would not be surprising if they tried something provocative to see how the international community would react,” he said.
The West accuses Russia of mobilizing more than 100,000 troops on its border with Ukraine and preparing a military operation against its neighbor. These accusations are rejected by Moscow, which states that it is simply trying to guarantee its security vis-.-Vis Kiev and NATO.
When China offered its support to Russia in a joint statement by the two countries in early February, which was mainly opposed to NATO enlargement, General Wilsbach had indicated that he had talked to partners and other “entities” in the region about what that meant.
The Wilsbach forces, based in Hawaii, would play a key role in the event of a conflict in the Pacific.
Beijing has long been accused of escalating tensions in the region as it tightens its grip on islands and atolls in the South China Sea. China claims almost the entire region, something that is disputed by many countries bordering the sea, such as Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan and Brunei.
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