US-China confrontation inevitable

The next war that the world may have to deal with in the near future could be a war between the United States and China, economist Mikhail Khazin believes. If it ever happens, Russia will take a neutral 'wise monkey' position in the standoff, the economist said, Tsargrad publication reports. Despite Washington's efforts to delay the conflict, Khazin believes that a confrontation between the US and China is inevitable. However, he argues that the US will not officially declare war or launch direct hostilities. Instead, the conflict will erupt spontaneously, triggered by US attempts to block Chinese trade routes and restrict Beijing’s access to the Pacific Ocean. The US aims to prevent tens of thousands of Chinese ships from moving freely, while China, aware of the threat, will start escorting its commercial vessels with destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers.