North Korea WARNING: Crisis could shatter America and China fragile peace, warns report
Getty There could be a war between China and America, experts warn
The RAND corporation said the chance of an outbreak of war has increased since Donald Trump took office. It stands in stark contrast to the think tank's finding in a 2011 report, when it suggested that the likelihood of war between the two countries was low. But tensions are growing on the Korean peninsula following Kim Jong Un's provocative missile tests. The report, entitled ‘Conflict with China revisited’, expresses concern over the fractured relationship between Taiwan, Japan and the South China sea - as America could feel the brunt of it.
According to the RAND Corporation, China has ramped up its air and sea defences since 2011 - making “the direct defence of US interests in the region potentially more costly”. While they say that none of the countries will likely use nuclear weapons, any small spat could cause “damage to both sides.” Mr Trump has urged China to step up its efforts to reign in is neighbour North Korea. But China is reluctant, always preferring dialogue over conflict, Australia's News.com reports.
Getty Kim Jong Un's provocative missile tests have caused tensions
However the report pulls no punches branding North Korea’s nuclear weapons crisis the greatest threat to world peace. The report said that China is not likely to defend Kim if a war breaks out - instead the country would look after itself. In recent weeks North Korea has launched two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test, and is fast advancing toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. Mr Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed in a phone conversation that pressure should be kept up on North Korea.
Getty North Korea has launched two missiles over Japan and conducted its sixth nuclear test
The two men also agreed that "dialogue for the purpose of dialogue" was meaningless.” Kim continues to test the international community’s patience. This, the RAND corporation said, could lead the US and South Korean forces to have to force North Korean military out of the artillery range of Seoul. China would then join if South Korean or US forces moved beyond this point.