Stephen Lendman

The nuclear doomsday clock is ticking. America’s rage for unchallenged dominance threatens world peace.

Its global military footprint and out-of-control belligerence heighten the risk of eventual nuclear war, crossing an unthinkable catastrophic rubicon of no return if launched.

China is justifiably concerned, According to London’s Guardian, it’s “poised to send submarines armed with nuclear missiles into the Pacific Ocean for the first time (because) new US weapons systems have so undermined (its) existing deterrent force that it has been left with no alternative.”Despite no official confirmation from Beijing, state-run People’s Daily headlined “Nuclear patrol to boost China’s own security,” saying “(a)s Sino-US tensions build, it is necessary for China to strengthen its capability for nuclear retaliation.”

“It is time the People’s Liberation Army sends nuclear submarines into the depth of the Pacific Ocean for regular patrols.”

In stark contrast to Washington, Beijing maintains a no-first-strike nuclear policy. Knowing the threat America poses, it’s forced to have deterrence capability ready to use if needed.

America bears full responsibility for heightened regional tensions. Obama’s Asia pivot prioritizes its aggressive Pacific presence - recklessly challenging China’s growing economic, political and military strength, pressuring Asia nations to adopt anti-Beijing policies harming their national security and interests.

Using the unjustifiable pretext of “freedom of navigation,” provocative US air and naval military patrols, along with joint exercises with Asian allies, ups the stakes for possible direct Sino/US confrontation.

London’s Guardian irresponsibly blamed Beijing for adopting a necessary nuclear deterrent policy, given the threat America poses, saying “missile patrols could further destabilise the already tense strategic standoff with the US in the South China Sea.”

China and Russia both strongly object to America deploying so-called missile defense systems close to their territory - intended solely for offense, capable of delivering intermediate and long-range nuclear strikes.

Beijing warned South Korea against installing US Thaad anti-ballistic interceptors on its territory, saying bilateral relations could be “destroyed in an instant” if it proceeds.

China’s Foreign Ministry minced no words, saying “(n)o harm shall be done to China’s strategic security interests.” Aggressive US policy forces it to maintain an effective deterrent, including by upgrading its nuclear capability.

The US-based Union of Concerned Scientists warned about Washington and Beijing “a few poor decisions away from starting a war that could escalate rapidly (into) a nuclear exchange.”

“Miscommunication or misunderstanding could spark” the unthinkable. Eventual nuclear war seems increasingly likely. Humanity’s fate hangs in the balance.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks World War III".

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.

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