The statement describes the South's alleged actions as "premeditated moves to deliberately escalate tension in the waters."

VOA: standard.2009.10.15

Professor Yang says the situation could easily escalate.

VOA: standard.2010.05.27

"And like Lyndon Johnson he has this really ominous problem, which is if you escalate in Afghanistan and we end up in that swamp that will over time be a kind of constant drain on support and enthusiasm among young people, among minorities,among liberals, among progressives and it will really sap the president's ability to continue to energize this broad agenda,".

VOA: standard.2009.12.29