By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - Military tensions between China and US are heating up again after the South China Sea dispute in mid November. If tensions keep rising, a small size of regional war could take place.

The assumed Dongfeng-41 (DF-41) ICBM. Recently, China has reportedly conducted a successful test of the DF-41./ Source from search engine Baidu

1

Such observation is not an exaggeration considering both sides' recent military movements. According to military sources in Beijing on Monday, it seems China is taking more aggressive movement. China has reportedly conducted a flight test of a new Dongeng-41 (DF-41) intercontinental ballistic missile, or ICBM, on December 4. If that is the case, it must be getting on the nerves of the United States, since the new multi-warhead ballistic missile is capable of reaching targets through the United States.

China's People's Liberation Army recently announced that it will go to relevant seas in the South China Sea, by way of the Western Pacific, to carry out exercises, which seems quite odd considering that it might be a response to the U.S army, which revealed that it will keep conduct navigating in the nearby area of the South China Sea even after December. Besides, China deployed the latest Aegis missile destroyer on its southern sea fleet in charge of the South China Sea, showing clearly its willingness to avoid defeat against the US if any regional war takes place.

The United States is also taking military movement in response to China. Most of all, the United States confirmed that a second Japanese-American joint test of Raytheon Co's new Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile was conducted successfully, showing its strong determination to clash in the worst case. Moreover, the United States is actively seeking for new Asia-Pacific Maritime Security Strategy which includes setting up the security guarantee cooperation network in the Asia-Pacific region, with eye on China.

Besides, the U.S. has recently agreed with Singapore on a first deployment of the U.S. P8 Poseidon spy plane in Singapore this month. It looks clear that war clouds are hanging over China and the United States.