PRESIDENT-ELECT Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state said China must be denied access to the artificial islands built in the South China Sea, a move that would raise the risk of conflict between the world’s biggest economies.
Hours into a confirmation hearing with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he was grilled extensively about his views on Russia, former Exxon Mobil Corp. chief Rex Tillerson said a failure to respond to China’s actions had allowed it to “keep pushing the envelope” in the South China Sea.
“We’re going to have to 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,” Tillerson said when asked whether he would support a more aggressive posture in the South China Sea.
He compared China’s actions to those of Russia in the Crimea.
His remark is the latest from Trump’s administration to signal a more aggressive defense posture against China in addition to calls for a tougher line on trade.
Trump earlier questioned the US’ policy of recognizing Beijing over the government in Taiwan, and criticized China’s ties with North Korea.
In Beijing, China offered a muted response Thursday after Tillerson warned the US would stop it from using its artificial islands in the South China Sea.
Beijing has fueled regional tensions by turning tiny, ecologically fragile reefs and islets in the strategically vital South China Sea into artificial islands hosting military facilities.
Tillerson said China’s building in the disputed waters and its declaration of an air defense identification zone over the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands in the East China Sea were “illegal actions.”
“They are taking territory or control or declaring control of territories that are not rightfully China’s.”
In Manila, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Malacañang will adopt a wait-and-see attitude following the statement from Tillerson that could set a course for a potentially serious confrontation with Beijing.
“The reasonable response is to wait and see what the new administration’s policy pronouncements will be,” Andanar said.
Tillerson offered no detail about how the US could stop China from building islands, or prevent access, but in recent years the US has consistently conducted freedom-of-navigation operations throughout the area.
“This is the sort of off-the-cuff remark akin to a tweet that pours fuel on the fire and maybe makes things worse,” said Malcolm Davis, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra.
“Short of going to war with China, there is nothing the Americans can do.”
China claims more than 80 percent of the South China Sea, where it has constructed artificial land features on seven rocks and reefs, and installed military facilities.
Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan also claim parts of the same area through which more than $5 trillion of trade passes each year.
In March, Trump accused Beijing of building a military fortress.
“They do that at will because they have no respect for our president and they have no respect for our country,” he said.
Tillerson also said he would stand by the US defense treaties with Japan and South Korea. These had been in doubt after Trump said in an interview in March last year that he would consider withdrawing US troops if the allies didn’t pay more for their upkeep.
Asked whether he agreed with Trump’s assertion that it wouldn’t be a bad thing for the US if Japan and South Korea acquired nuclear weapons, Tillerson said he “did not agree.”
