“The Chinese are determined to control the South China Sea,” he added.
“The US and its allies are determined to challenge that control, because it is after all international waters and international airspace. It’s not Chinese territorial waters, irrespective of what the Chinese claim.”
On the issue of Taiwan, Dr Davis said the US has a fundamental choice to make, because “if it does nothing, its strategic credibility in the Indo-Pacific region is completely gone”.
“But if it does respond, if it does intervene to support Taiwan, then we’re looking at a major war between China and the United States,” he noted.
“And I don’t think any diplomatic discussions are going to alleviate that, because the interests and the stakes involved around Taiwan are so great for both sides that it’s very difficult to see a way back from that.”
EXPECTATIONS OF QUID PRO QUO
Moving forward, Beijing, in return for the US easing sanctions, could make constructive contributions to ensure stability, analysts suggested.