If
markets have been blissfully ignorant of potential fallout from the
simmering US-China trade dispute (even if corporate executives are
bracing for the worst), just imagine how they would react to the
reality of a military confrontation.
Which
brings us to an ABC News report published Monday evening detailing
just how close Chinese ships came to actively confronting the USS
Decatur while the US ship was carrying out yet another in a series of
"freedom of navigation" operations - or "freeops"
- in the South China Sea.
The Navy
destroyer had to maneuver to avoid a Chinese ship that came within 45
yards of its bow while the Decatur was sailing through the Spratley
Islands on Sunday in what was the closest direct confrontation
between US and Chinese ships since Trump's inauguration (after which
the Navy began conducting these freeops with increasing frequency).
Earlier
Monday, reports surfaced that China had called off a security
conference with US officials. The cancellation was later confirmed by
the US. This latest sign of a deteriorating relationship came after
the US Air Force flew a B-52 bomber on a mission through the East
China Sea while two other B-52 flights were carried out through the
South China Sea.
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