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Washington and Beijing have been locked in a row over the disputed waters which China claims as its own.

Chinese military forces have been beefing up their presence in the region with manmade islands bristling with missiles and warplanes.

US warships regularly sail through the strategically key sea displaying “freedom of navigation” to China amid fears of a clash.

Rear Admiral Luo Yuan has now suggested China could sink two super carriers in bid to scare off the US.

He claimed the US military are scared of taking causalities – and destroying two carriers could kill up to 10,000 men.

Admiral Yuan’s comments were reportedly at a Chinese military summit on December 20, according to Taiwanese media.

He claimed the US military are one of the “five cornerstones of weakness” for Washington.

Yuan said: “What the United States fears the most is taking casualties.”

The military chief also claimed China’s new missile systems can beat the defence of US carrier strike groups.

(Image: VOA)

After laying out how China could destroy two carriers, he remarked "We'll see how frightened America is”.

Admiral Luo laid out how China should exploit “the enemy’s shortcomings” to beat the US.

He added: "Attack wherever the enemy is afraid of being hit. Wherever the enemy is weak, just focus on developing [an advantage].”

Other weaknesses of the US claimed by the admiral were the strength of the dollar, the electoral system, its “fear of advertises” and its “talent”.

(Image: GETTY) (Image: US NAVY)

Admiral Luo’s shocking warning comes after a new report by Washington think tank Center of Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA) claimed the US Navy would fail against China.

It claimed the force – the largest navy in the world – was facing losing ground to Beijing.

CSBA experts claimed new missiles being developed by China, and also Russia, would render the US forces helpless.

Tensions between the US and China have been on a knife-edge under Donald Trump who has openly squared up to Beijing.

(Image: GETTY)

Trump has declared a trade war on China, and has previously accused them to “raping” the US.

The departure of Trump’s top general James Mattis also raised questions of further military policy in the South China Sea.

Vice President Mike Pence has warned China that the US will not be intimidated following a clash earlier this year.

Missile destroyer USS Decatur came within 45 yards of a Chinese warship – almost causing a collision in the tense standoff – back in October.