The superpowers are on the verge of war. 5 ominous signs are visible

• The American commander lists five signals that may indicate that a US-China war is approaching.
• These signals include increasing cyberattacks, rising tensions over Taiwan and the escalation of the conflict in the South China Sea.
• More and more signals make me worry, emphasizes James Stavridis, retired Navy admiral.

James Stavridis is a retired United States Navy admiral and former NATO Allied Commander Europe.

In an article published by Bloomberg, he pointed out that the question is increasingly being asked whether we are heading towards open armed conflict.

Of course I hope not - but I am increasingly worried by the signals. I spent most of my naval career in the Pacific and I have never felt that we were so close to a real clash with Beijing - he noted.

As he pointed out, there are five warning signals in the Pacific region that are already flashing yellow. "They need to be monitored carefully before they turn red," he emphasized.

5 Dangerous Signs Are Visible: Powers One Step Away from War

• Aggression in cyberspace

James Stavridis said China is increasingly attacking American critical infrastructure using its advanced offensive technology capabilities.

"Beijing is demonstrating not only its ability to conduct advanced cyber warfare, but also its willingness to use those capabilities. The larger the scale and impact of such attacks, the greater the risk of a wider conflict," we read.

• Growing Chinese Air Activity Around Taiwan

The retired admiral also noted that there were more than 3,000 violations of Taiwan’s air defense identification zone last year – almost twice as many as in 2023.

Believe me, Admiral Sam Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Honolulu, receives daily reports of these flights. It's worth keeping an eye on them, too, he wrote in Bloomberg.

• Military activity in the South China Sea

China claims almost all of this vast body of water. Beijing has built at least seven artificial islands that serve as bases for its increasingly powerful navy.

That is why the activity of the Chinese Navy and Coast Guard in the South China Sea is one of the most telling signals of a potential conflict, writes James Stavridis.

• Increasing the Power of the Chinese Navy

China is building 20 to 30 warships a year. Its current fleet, in terms of combat units, already exceeds that of the US: more than 360 ships to the US's about 300. China's goal is to exceed 400 ships.

Beijing is well aware that any potential war with the US will be fought mainly at sea. That is why it is worth monitoring the pace of shipbuilding in Chinese shipyards – this is a key indicator of preparations for a serious conflict - we read.

James Stavridis said the most dangerous signal is the scale of the tariffs imposed by both sides.

It is worth recalling that World War II in the Pacific began with trade sanctions that cut Japan off from its basic raw materials – oil, steel and rubber. Many historians believe that the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 was the result of a decade of economic disputes and provocative actions, he wrote.

He added that today China is starting to restrict supplies of rare earth elements and strategic raw materials.

"The US tariffs could cause immediate and severe damage to the Chinese economy, but Beijing's response will be the fifth key signal of a possible conflict," he said.