WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s pick to lead the State Department has stoked confusion over the U.S.’s South China Sea policy by appearing to advocate a blockade of Chinese man-made islands.
A person familiar with deliberations inside the Trump transition team was aware of no such planning, raising the likelihood that Rex Tillerson misspoke Wednesday at his Senate confirmation hearing for secretary of state. The individual was not authorized to speak on the record and demanded anonymity.
Restricting Chinese access to contested islands and reefs in the South China Sea would be seen as highly confrontational. It would also contradict Washington’s support for …read more
Source: National Newswatch
