‘Stop island-building, prevent access’: Tillerson threatens tough stance over S. China Sea

Beijing should be denied access to islands it has built in the disputed South China Sea, according to Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, who likened the construction to “Russia taking Crimea” from Ukraine.


Asked whether he was in favor of Washington taking a tougher stance toward China, the former ExxonMobil CEO replied: “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.”

Tillerson did not elaborate on how exactly Beijing might be blocked from the artificial islands but said he considered its South China Sea activity "extremely worrisome."  It would be a threat to the "entire global economy" if Beijing were able to dictate access to the waterway, he added.

Tillerson branded as "illegal" the Chinese declaration of an air defense zone in the East China Sea, which Beijing contests with Japan.

"They’re taking territory or control, or declaring control of territories that are not rightfully China’s," he said.
   [rt.com]
12/1/17
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