Not even a week in power

[Lagwin]

And trump is hard at work trying to start a war over those artificial islands China made.

The new U.S. administration of President Donald Trump vowed on Monday that the United States would prevent China from taking over territory in international waters in the South China Sea, something Chinese state media has warned would require Washington to "wage war."

The comments at a briefing from White House spokesman Sean Spicer signalled a sharp departure from years of cautious U.S. handling of China's assertive pursuit of territory claims in Asia, just days after Trump took office on Friday.

"The U.S. is going to make sure that we protect our interests there," Spicer said when asked if Trump agreed with comments by his Secretary of State nominee, Rex Tillerson, on Jan. 11 that China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea.

"It’s a question of if those islands are in fact in international waters and not part of China proper, then yeah, we’re going to make sure that we defend international territories from being taken over by one country," he said.

Tillerson's remarks at his Senate confirmation hearing prompted Chinese state media to say the United States would need to "wage war" to bar China's access to the islands where it has built military-length air strips and installed weapons systems.

Tillerson, who was expected to be confirmed as secretary of State on Monday, was asked at the hearing whether he supported a more aggressive posture towards China and said: "We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed.”

The former Exxon Mobil Corp chairman and chief executive did not elaborate on what might be done to deny China access to the islands.

But analysts said his comments, like those of Spicer, suggested the possibility of U.S. military action, or even a naval blockade, that would risk armed confrontation with China, an increasingly formidable nuclear-armed military power. It is also the world's second-largest economy and the target of accusations by Trump that it is stealing American jobs.

Spicer declined to elaborate when asked how the United States could enforce such a move against China, except to say: “I think, as we develop further, we’ll have more information on it.”

RISK OF DANGEROUS ESCALATION

Military experts said that while the U.S. Navy has extensive capabilities in Asia to stage blockading operations with ships, submarines and planes, any such move against China's growing naval fleets would risk dangerous escalation.

Aides have said that Trump plans a major naval build-up in East Asia to counter China's rise.

China's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the White House remarks.

China's Foreign Ministry said earlier this month it could not guess what Tillerson meant by his remarks, which came after Trump questioned Washington's longstanding and highly sensitive "one-China" policy over Taiwan.

Washington-based South China Sea expert Mira Rapp-Hooper at the Center for a New American Security called the threats to bar China's access in the South China Sea "incredible" and said it had no basis in international law.

"A blockade - which is what would be required to actually bar access - is an act of war," she added.

"The Trump administration has begun to draw red lines in Asia that they will almost certainly not be able to uphold, but they may nonetheless be very destabilising to the relationship with China, invite crises, and convince the rest of the world that the United States is an unreliable partner."

Bonnie Glaser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank called Spicer's remarks "worrisome" and said the new administration was "sending confusing and conflicting messages."

Dean Cheng, a China expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said Spicer's remarks showed the South China Sea was an important issue for the Trump administration.

He said it was significant that neither Spicer nor Tillerson had been specific as to what actions would be taken and this left open the possibility that economic measures - instead of military steps - could be used against China and firms that carry out island building.

Wee mention of economic measures to stop them building islands, but lets be honest , trump has already said he will hurt them economically so it's hardly a deterrent

Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/u-says-pre...213213672.html

[Wells]

The peace candidate.

[Espe]

The peace candidate.

More like the pees candidate, amirite?

[Wells]

By studiously applying the bulletproof logic some on this board applied to Clinton's Syria policy I can now confirm that Trump is going to end the world in nuclear hellfire.

[starlord]

"We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed.”

"no sail-zone"

[Wyrt]

Can we not start a massive war with China? Trade war or otherwise? That'd be great.

[Dextroden]

There are going to be a lot of Conscientious objectors if Trump starts wars with China, Mexico, or other countries because he does, or says something ignorant.

Wars with Mexico. Really?

[Kaleredar]

>"United States should stick to its own and not be involved in the conflicts of other countries like Russia or the EU"
>"We need to stick it to China as hard and fast as possible, even if it means war!"

Oh Trump supporters. How will they mentally rectify this one?

[Dextroden]

Who knows... with "Mexico will Pay for it" to trying to purposefully crash their economy, anything is possible with Trump.

It's good to see you and others rising above fearmongering Connal.

I'll remind myself how one of the biggest cheerleaders for Obama's drone tour was supposed to be the peaceful option, according to you guys.

- - - Updated - - -

>"United States should stick to its own and not be involved in the conflicts of other countries like Russia or the EU"
>"We need to stick it to China as hard and fast as possible, even if it means war!"

Oh Trump supporters. How will they mentally rectify this one?

>People demand end to Russia and ISIS causing trouble
>Casually ignore China and Israel/Palestine

People are really inconsistent about interventionist policies.

[Sky High]

who even gives a shit about a few spites of land? god damn what a bunch of dick waggling.

[Dextroden]

How am I fear mongering if those are things Trump has said?


He wants to do those things to Mexico... that could cause conflict... and if he continues to antagonize them... who knows what can happen.

I'm banking on nothing since I'm still waiting on the Klan to show up.

[akaTheDude]

GO TRUMP!! I am sooooo glad he is OUR PRESIDENT!!

[Dextroden]

The Klan disappeared? I am pretty sure I have seen then out, from time to time on the News, while Obama was in office...

They don't seem to be out on the streets attacking people. That would be the people protestingTrump.

[Milchshake]

The real irony will be, Trump waging a costly war over these islands. Then a few years later the island disappear due to global warming. Since its now illegal for the DoD to account for global warming.

[ControlWarrior]

If only we had a competent president to guide us through this conflict.

Edit: Also, while Trump isn't the right person to guide us through this, I do think this conflict is necessary. We can't just let them build islands and belligerently through their weight around when they're trying to control international waters.

Yeah, that is becoming a little too obvious to ignore. Credit to Trump for at least addressing it.

[Kaleredar]

>People demand end to Russia and ISIS causing trouble
>Casually ignore China and Israel/Palestine

People are really inconsistent about interventionist policies.

Perhaps, but that wasn't the side claiming that the US needed to be "isolationist" either, now was it? Nor did they say that every single issue in the world was one that needed immediate addressing.

So when the side claiming that the US should stick to its own and worry about its own interests makes a massive 180 and starts claiming that we need to focus on China's business, it reeks of hypocrisy.

[ControlWarrior]

The real irony will be, Trump waging a costly war over these islands. Then a few years later the island disappear due to global warming. Since its now illegal for the DoD to account for global warming.

Okay, let's not venture too far off into tin foil hat land.

[Dextroden]

I am sure they would be attacking people as the opportunity presents itself, with, or without Trump.

That would be the truth. But Trump is the source for all hate and evil. So lets smash windows and attack people.

[TwoNineMarine]

Yeah how dare he try and defend international waters from a single country who wants to take control over them?

The audacity!

[Independent voter]

I remember not long ago China seize these rocks, not calling it an island, to the west of Japan in the sea there. I remember thinking why is Japan making such a big deal out of a few rocks that barely stick out of the water?

And now we know, China is being a huge asshole about seizing large parts of the ocean they never owned.