FREE now and never miss the top politics stories again. SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow and never miss the top politics stories again. We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Even a minor naval incident between Washington and Beijing in the hotly disputed South China Sea risk becoming “nightmarish”, military observers have warned. Analysts attending the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing spoke of the risk that Taiwan purchasing weaponry from US President Donald Trump could impose as another sticking point between him and China’s President Xi Jinping. Former PLA Major General Yao Yunzhu said: “Strategically speaking, trust between China and the US has fallen. A skirmish involving military aircraft or warships in the South China Sea could easily escalate.”

Bates Gill, professor of Asia-Pacific security studies at Australia’s Macquarie University, added Taiwan could become the final nail in the coffin in the crumbling relationship between Presidents Jinping and Trump. Mr Gill said: “In Taiwan, we have this steady evolution of the political atmosphere where reunification under ‘one country, two systems’, or certainly reunification under Chinese terms, is simply unacceptable.” Referring to anti-establishment Taiwan President Ing, he added: “Say if Tsai Ing-wen wins the election, as it appears likely now, it will simply add to that dynamic.” Alexander Lukin, an East Asia specialist from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, also told of his worries over the possibility of cross-strait tensions increasing

Analysts attending the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing spoke of the risk between China and the US

He said there was “fertile ground” for World War 3 fears because the last major conflict had faded. He said: “People forget about the war. This is most dangerous. “We have seen very dangerous signs of it – like the collapse of the arms control treaties.” The remarks come just a day after tensions between the US and China hit boiling point when a vessel rom Beijing surrounded a ship from Washington in a show of defiance. READ NOW: South China Sea tensions hit crisis point as Beijing surrounds ship

Soon after entering the region, the ship was surrounded by Chinese vessels

The Asian super-power furiously accused Washington of “flexing its muscles” in the disputed region and launched an incredible display surrounding it. China accused the US of showing its strength in the region after the USS Ronald Reagan carried out drills in the disputed waters. Soon after entering the region, the ship was surrounded by Chinese vessels according to to satellite images. Moreover, such was the apparent provocation that Beijing filed a complaint with Washington. DON'T MISS: South China Sea: Enraged Beijing to ‘escalate level of confrontation' China accused of running secret ‘rape and torture’ camps South China Sea: Beijing’s secret Solomon Islands deal

The Asian super-power furiously accused Washington of “flexing its muscles”

Speaking on the matter, rear admiral Karl Thomas told The Daily Telegraph: “There is certainly a disagreement in where they think we should sail.” China has also clashed with Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines over its encroachment into rich fishing grounds and reserves of untapped oil and gas reserves. Beijing has also been accused of weaponising certain areas with the creation of artificial islands, illustrated by the Fiery Cross Reef. Off the coast of the Philippines, the area is one of the most heavily fortified by China and now has underground ammunition storage, missile shelters and radar domes.

The Philippines and China both disputed the Scarborough Shoal territory

Trending