A war of superpowers is getting closer. 5 disturbing signs.

• A retired admiral warns that the United States and China may be closer to open conflict than ever before.
• It identifies five disturbing signals: cyberattacks on American infrastructure, military pressure on Taiwan, increased activity in the South China Sea, the dynamic expansion of the Chinese fleet, and an escalating economic war.
• In his opinion, history shows that escalating economic tensions can be a precursor to a real military confrontation.

Bloomberg published an article by James Stavridis, a retired US Navy admiral and former commander of NATO forces in Europe. Stavridis notes that questions about the possibility of open armed conflict are increasingly being raised. He believes the situation in the Pacific is becoming increasingly tense.

"More and more signals are causing me concern. I spent most of my naval career in the Pacific, and I've never felt before that we were so close to a real clash with China," he noted.

According to Stavridis, there are five clear warning signs in the Pacific region. Each of them indicates a growing risk of confrontation between China and the United States. He listed these as follows:

China is stepping up cyberattacks on key US infrastructure using its advanced offensive technologies.

• Air pressure on Taiwan

Last year, more than 3,000 violations of Taiwan's air defense identification zone were recorded - almost twice as many as in 2023.

• Operations in the South China Sea

The heavy presence of the Chinese Navy and Coast Guard in the South China Sea is one of the strongest signs of impending conflict.

China is building 20 to 30 warships per year. Its current fleet already surpasses the US fleet in terms of combat units: over 360 ships compared to the US fleet's approximately 300. China aims to exceed 400 ships.

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

"It is worth recalling that World War II in the Pacific began with trade sanctions that cut off Japan 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.