The United States is threatening the Asia-Pacific region with its so-called pivot policy as it attempts to curb China’s economic and military growth, an intelligence specialist in Ohio says.

“We’re obviously trying to block China,” said Gordon Duff, who is also a military veteran and a senior editor at Veterans Today.

“The United States has decided that it wants to bully its way across the Pacific Ocean and dominate the Far East,” Duff told Press TV on Thursday. The US “wants to strangle the Chinese economy,” he said.

Duff made the comments as more than 11,000 soldiers from the United States and Philippines launched one of their largest annual combat exercises Monday amid growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region over China’s efforts to claim territory in the South China Sea.

The Philippines is seeking more US military and diplomatic support to curb China’s increasing efforts to establish sovereignty in disputed areas in the South China Sea as well as the East China Sea.

China criticized the massive military exercise on Tuesday. China’s state-run Global Times said in an editorial that the war games run counter to efforts to ease territorial tensions in the South China Sea.

“The thunder of guns made by Washington and Manila there is inappropriate and of little use.”

Regional countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, all have overlapping claims with China over disputed territories in the South China Sea. The disputed territories include the Spratly Islands, Paracel Islands, Pratas Islands, and Scarborough Shoal. Some of the disputes have been taken to the United Nations for settlement.







China has repeatedly accused Washington of meddling in the regional issues and deliberately stirring up tensions in the South China Sea.

AHT/GJH

Author Details Author Details Gordon Duff, Senior Editor Gordon Duff is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. He is a disabled veteran and has worked on veterans and POW issues for decades. Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues. Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology. Gordon’s Latest Posts