China’s blunt warning to America: ‘We’re ready for repeat of Korean War or Vietnam if U.S. military stirs up any conflict in South China Sea’

China has warned the United States not to 'stir up any conflict' in the South China Sea and said it was ready to replay the Korean War or Vietnam if provoked. 

Liu Zhenmin, a vice minister in China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: 'The Chinese people do not want to have war, so we will be opposed to U.S. if it stirs up any conflict. 

 

'Of course, if the Korean War or Vietnam War are replayed, then we will have to defend ourselves.'

China has adopted an increasingly aggressive posture in the South China Sea as it seeks to intimidate neighbors Vietnam and the Philippines over the Spratly Islands, which are believed to be at the center of an oilfield.

A tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague is expected to rule in the next couple months on Beijing's claims to 1.4 million square miles of ocean, though China has already rejected those proceedings. 

There has also been growing tension with the U.S. and its allies Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Earlier this week the Pentagon claimed two Chinese aircraft intercepted a U.S. EP-3 reconaissance plane near Hainan island in an 'unsafe' manner.

The Chinese denied this, saying their jets kept at 'a safe distance' and did not make any 'dangerous moves'. Mr Liu said: 'We rely heavily on the South China Sea for transportation of resources and energy and the South China Sea is an important trading group for us. 

'We attach great importance to peace and stability in the South China Sea.' 

He warned the U.S. it 'cannot circle China by building military bases'. 

Mr Liu said: 'The Chinese people and the government feel like we haven't been treated fairly because the U.S. is blaming China for rising tensions in the South China Sea.

'What matters is that the U.S. government has recognized that times have changed, and the U.S. can gain much more through cooperation than going to war.' China has the largest standing army in the world - more than two million soldiers - and it has been building up its naval and air capability in recent years. 

It has also been building airstrips on disputed islands and atolls in the South China Sea to support its claim on the so-called 'nine-dash line' in the area. 

President Obama's administration argues that China's claim to a huge chunk of the South China Sea, containing major international shipping lanes, is 'inconsistent with international law'. 

Vietnam and the Philippines have rival claims and Washington fears Beijing is seeking to impose military controls over the entire area.

Much to Beijing's annoyance, the US military has conducted several 'freedom of navigation' operations, in which planes or ships pass within a 12-nautical-mile buffer around the Chinese installations.  Chinese and American soldiers last fired on each other in anger during the 1950-53 Korean War. 

The communist North invaded South Korea but was driven back by U.N. troops - mainly U.S. - at which point China came to Pyongyang's assistance. The war ended in stalemate but tens of thousands of troops died on both sides.