TIL Desk/World/Beijing-China’s official media today warned of a “large-scale war” if the US blocks it from accessing the artificial islands China has built in the contested South China Sea, a day after secretary of state nominee said Washington should deny Beijing access to the new islands.
In a scathing editorial titled “Is (Rex) Tillerson’s bluster just a bluff for Senate?” state-run Global Times said his comments were aimed to “curry favour from senators and increase his chances of being confirmed by intentionally showing a tough stance toward China”.
In testimony before the Senate, Tillerson who is nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for the post of Secretary of State, likened China’s island-building in the South China Sea to “Russia’s taking of Crimea”. The new US government would send China a clear signal that “first the island building stops, and second your access to those islands is also not going to be allowed,” he was reported to have said.
“It is not clear which point, among the many he made, he will prioritise. But it is worth looking at his remarks that China should not be allowed access to the islands, since this is the most radical statement from the US side so far” the editorial said.
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