US taking a confrontational approach in Pacific

An American a writer and retired professor says instead of reconciliation and cooperation with China, the United States is taking a confrontational approach in the Pacific area which could be very harmful for Washington.

James Petras, a professor emeritus of sociology at Binghamton University in New York, and adjunct professor at Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Canada, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV while commenting on a report which says the US military has welcomed Japan’s interest in boosting its maritime activities in the disputed South China Sea. 

The US Navy said in a statement on Thursday it seeks to enhance cooperative efforts with Japan to contribute to the region’s security.

"The United States welcomes Japan's interest in expanding its maritime activities in the South China Sea. We continue to explore ways to enhance US-Japan cooperative efforts to contribute to the security and stability of the region," the US Navy said.

“Japanese entry into the US-induced conflict in the Pacific is a very dangerous move. Japan has a history of militarism and imperialism. It was a very destructive force in China,” Professor Petras said.

“China will take Japanese entry as a belligerent act. There’s no doubt that China will expand its military as a result.  China will deepen its ties with Russia,” he stated.

“I think China the United States is going along on a very dangerous course. Instead of reconciliation and cooperation with China, they are taking a confrontational approach which ultimately will be very harmful to the United States, because China is the dominant power in the Pacific and there is no way the US and Japan can intimidate China through these activities,” he observed.

“I think the net result will be that the US suffers its relations with China in a very negative fashion. It will lose trade, it will lose investment. It will lose possibilities of forging a peaceful alliance in the Pacific area,” the analyst concluded.

Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada said on Thursday Japan, which has its own territorial dispute with China in the East China Sea, will help build the capacity of coastal states in the South China Sea.

Japan has already expressed readiness to provide Vietnam and the Philippines, which have claims over the South China Sea, with new patrol ships and surveillance aircraft.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, despite partial counterclaims by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. China is also locked in disputes with Japan and South Korea over the East China Sea.

Across Southeast Asia, concerns about China and its growing military have created an opportunity for the US to improve relationships.

China has repeatedly criticized US military presence in the region and suspects its frequent military drills there are part of efforts to contain Beijing.