MOSCOW. April 5 (Interfax) - If Washington's approach to the Asia Pacific region is similar to the one it has used in the Middle East, it may cause a military conflict on the Korean Peninsula and an escalation of the situation in the region, the First Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff's Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), Vice-Admiral Igor Kostyukov, said.
"The principles of the measures that we see Washington apply with respect to means and forces in 'hot spots' in the Middle East and Northern Africa - if this approach is projected by the United States in the Asia Pacific region, it will increase in the foreseeable future the probability of a military conflict in the disputed waters of the South China and Eastern China Seas, an escalation of tension in the Taiwan Strait, an unleashing of military action on the Korean Peninsula. These things threaten the region and the whole world with a lengthy crisis with unpredictable consequences," Kostyukov said at the Moscow Conference on International Security.
He also said that the United States has been developing military-political alliances with Japan, South Korea, and Australia against Russia and China
"The White House is forging military-political alliances with Japan, South Korea, and Australia in the Asia Pacific region for the purpose of the military-political deterrence of Russia and China as centers of strength which could call the U.S.' dominance in the region into question," Kostyukov said.
"The existence of serious inter-state disagreements, unsettled territorial problems, and the increasing activity of terrorist groups, above all ISIL [banned in Russia], in the Asia Pacific region add to the problem," he said.