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http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/09/15/378772/us-use-of-malaysia-base-may-be-a-coup/ US use of Malaysia base may be a coup: American analyst American political analyst Scott Rickard believes that it may be a “coup” if the United States starts partnership with Malaysia in South China Sea. “It would be a bit of a coup for the Americans to begin partnering with Malaysia in South China Sea and using airbases in Malaysia to conduct surveillance,” Rickard, former Intelligence Linguist, told Press TV on Sunday. He made the remarks when asked about a report that Malaysia has offered to let the US use one of its airbases to fly military spy planes over the South China Sea. Admiral Jonathan Greenert, the US Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), has said that the Malaysian government recently asked the US to operate the P-8 Poseidon aircraft from the country’s most eastern area, giving the Americans greater proximity to the South China Sea. However, Rickard said “either bases certainly are not required, either bases, I would say would be more of a political move, the Americans can conduct all surveillance they want.” He said the US is already present in the region. “The US Navy has a great presence in southeast Asia.” “So at the end of the day, this may just be a political move and discussions and they never happen or unfortunately it also maybe that Malaysia is making a mistake and then really making ties with the American Navy that it really should not be getting into,” he opined. Analysts say the move seems likely to intensify China’s anger at American surveillance of the strategic waterway. China, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, has increasingly contested the right of the United States to conduct surveillance flights over its territorial waters. AT/AGB