China’s official media on Saturday 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(SCS), 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”.
