Predictions that a possible World War 3 could erupt from a skirmish that occurred last week between the U.S. and China in the South China Sea have come from a particularly troubling and high-level source, according to a report by Reuters on Friday.
The region claimed by China, around the three island chains known as the Spratly Islands, Scarborough Shoals, and the Paracels, is a major nautical trade route as well, with an estimated $5.3 trillion in global trade passing through the disputed area annually, including $1.2 trillion from the U.S. alone.
In addition, control of the region is seen by world leaders as a test of the United States and its Asian allies to respond to increased military activity by China in the area of the South China Sea.
On October 26, the U.S. sent an armed warship, the USS Lassen (pictured above, on an earlier exercise), to sail less than 12 miles from the Spratly Islands, claimed by China. China saw the incursion as a deliberate provocation, leading to the ominous predicitons from China Naval Chief Wu.
