The United States Is Headed for War in the South China Sea, and No One Seems to Care

The U.S. Navy is heading toward war in the South China Sea at a faster pace than ever before.

For years, China has been building islands and military bases in the South China Sea, outright ignoring the claims of neighboring nations and even the ruling of an international court.

South China Sea
The U.S.S. Carl Vinson Strike Force, Jan. 5, 2018.

And now, the United States is stepping up its efforts to contest China's aggressive moves.

Yet recent developments in the region have largely gone unnoticed - especially by American mainstream media. Between last week's market volatility, this week's tragedy in Florida, and the ongoing Winter Olympics, the South China Sea dispute has gone woefully underreported.

In fact, even the Navy's top commander is now warning about the consequences of ignoring the regional roiling conflict.

Check out these two disturbing developments that have flown under the media's radar in recent weeks, and how the United States will suffer if nothing changes...

The Alliance that Could Set Fire to the South China Sea

The United States and Vietnam - the two countries that have defied China the most - are officially teaming up. This marks the first time the U.S. military will have a physical presence in the Communist nation since 1975.

This is likely because Vietnam is among the only South China Sea nations remaining steadfastly defiant of the Red Dragon.

Even the Philippines - who originally brought the conflict to the International Court of the Hague's doorstep in 2016 (and won) - has done a 180, actively aligning itself with China in order to reap massive investments from Big Brother Beijing.

Meanwhile, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and other ASEAN countries have laid low.

But not Vietnam. Vietnam has pursued the creation of an official code of conduct in the South China Sea - one that would reign in China's island-building and warship posturing.

And in its persistence, Hanoi has made an enemy of Beijing.

But it's also found a friend in Washington, who wants to keep the region open for international trade.

You Must Act Now: America is headed for an economic disaster bigger than anything since the Great Depression. If you lost out when the markets crashed in 2008, then you are going to want to see this special presentation...

Now, the U.S. Navy's sole nuclear-capable warship - the U.S.S. Carl Vinson - is expected to dock in Vietnam next month, according to East Asian news outlets The Nikkei Asian Review and The Diplomat.

In response to the news of the Carl Vinson's arrival in Vietnam, China deployed its new fleet of Su-35 Flanker-E jet fighters and Chengdu J-20 stealth fighters over the South China Sea. These are brand-new war planes the world had not yet seen in action.

These new war machines have the military brass wondering just what would happen if the United States and China came to blows.

Yesterday, in fact, the U.S. Navy's top officer warned precisely what would happen if the U.S. military failed to properly prepare for a war in the South China Sea...

[mmpazkzone name="in-story" network="9794" site="307044" id="137008" type="4"]

Beijing's Progress Has This Top Naval Officer Worried

On Wednesday, U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Harry Harris - the Navy's top officer - warned of Beijing's expanding military might in the South China Sea.

"China is attempting to assert de facto sovereignty over disputed maritime features by further militarizing its manmade bases," the admiral testified in a Congressional hearing yesterday, according to a report by The Economic Times of India.

Indeed, Harris outlined to the House Armed Services Committee how Beijing's military - known as the People's Liberation Army - had built seven new facilities in recent months that include "aircraft hangers, barracks facilities, radar facilities, weapon emplacements, [and] 10,000-foot runways."

And, for some reason, the United States and ASEAN nations ignored China's progress.

Until this week, at least.

Adm. Harris bluntly stated in his testimony that China has also made key advancements in its military technology - including significant improvements in missile systems and fighter aircraft capabilities.

And if the U.S. military doesn't start taking the Red Dragon seriously?

"[America] will struggle to compete with the People's Liberation Army on future battlefields," Harris cautioned.

Fortunately, thanks to one small defense contractor, the U.S. Navy will be able to stop China dead in its tracks...

There Is No Place for Fear, Panic, or Mistakes

You may only have a few months to prepare.

Because a market signal that showed up before the Great Depression... before the dot-com crash... and before the 2008 financial crisis has just appeared again.

Each time this signal appears, investors only have a few short months before chaos strikes.

Which means if you want to protect yourself and your family, there is no place for fear, panic, or mistakes.

You must act now. Click here to discover how.

 

Follow Money Morning on Twitter @moneymorningFacebook, and LinkedIn.