In a show of bluster and bravado, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) declared it doesn't want to fight a war against a newly assertive United States over the South China Sea but won't back away from one either.

An op-ed in the PLA website said the PLA isn't afraid of "demons" (the U.S.) and "intimidation" (from the U.S.). The PLA said it will dare to "show its sword" again if provoked.

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As proof of its willingness to fight the U.S., the PLA harkened back to the Korean War (1950-1953) where the Chinese People's Volunteers battled the U.S., South Korea and a coalition of 16 member states of the United Nations to a military stalemate.

The Korean War ended in an Armistice on July 27, 1953 that only ended the fighting. North and South Korea remain technically at war.

The PLA also cherished its role in the Vietnam War where it supplied the weapons and supplies that allowed communist North Vietnam to defeat the United States and its ally, South Vietnam, in 1975.

"In the past, the PLA produced numerous miracles in wars, despite being outnumbered by enemies or having inferior weapons compared with those of its adversaries," said the op-ed.

"Today, our troops are well equipped and high-spirited ... Facing risk-takers, the PLA, which owns DF series ballistic missiles, will show them that we are ready for a war and we do not fear wars."

A different op-ed criticized "some U.S. politicians" (U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, for example) for believing that lasting superiority over China in the Asia-Pacific will ensure America's "global leadership," and said playing tricks with China in the South China Sea is unreasonable and dangerous.

The op-ed suggested the U.S. focus on its domestic issues instead of "interfering elsewhere" if it wishes to become "great again," a dig at U.S. president Donald Trump's campaign slogan.

TagsPeople's Liberation Army, PLA, United States, South China Sea, Chinese People's Volunteers, Korean War, vietnam war