Trump pick could talk his way into war: Chinese media

From The Daily Tribune (Jan 14): Trump pick could talk his way into war: Chinese media

BEIJING — Prospective US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson better watch his mouth, angry Chinese media said Friday, warning Donald Trump’s nominee that his threats to block China in the South China Sea are fighting words.

The comments came after the former ExxonMobil CEO told US senators that he would seek to deny Beijing access to the artificial islands China has been building in the South China Sea.

China’s actions in the region are comparable to Russia’s invasion of Crimea, Tillerson said, a comment that did not sit well with the nuclear-armed Asian giant.

If Tillerson acted on his threats, Chinese state-owned China Daily warned “it would set a course for a devastating confrontation between China and the US.”

China Daily editorial said it remains a question whether president-elect Trump’s nomination of Rex Tillerson  as secretary of state will get through Senate scrutiny.

“If he is appointed, it remains to be seen to what extent his views against China will translate into US foreign policies. After all, what we heard at Wednesday’s confirmation hearing before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee was essentially his personal policy inclinations.

“Not only were his views divergent from, even contrary to, those of Trump on some critical issues. He openly conceded he is yet to have a serious, in-depth discussion with Trump on foreign policy imperatives.

“These boil down to one simple point. His remarks at the Wednesday hearing, sensational as they were, turned out to be of little reference value except for judging his personal orientations.

“The backlash that has ensued is understandable. It is certainly no small matter for a man intended to be the US’ diplomat inchief to display such undisguised animosity toward China.

Tillerson labeled China’s reclamation projects in the South China Sea as ‘an illegal taking of disputed areas without regard for international norms’, in obvious disregard for the essential truth that all those activities took place well within the country’s persistent, historical territory.

“Blaming the ‘extremely worrisome’ state of affairs in the South China Sea on an ‘inadequate US response’, the US secretary of state nominee even claimed China’s access to those islands should ‘not to be allowed’. Which sounded intimidating, though he stopped short of elaborating how to achieve it.

“And like Trump, he blamed Beijing for “not being a reliable partner” in dealing with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.”

It said that such remarks are not worth taking seriously, calling it a mish-mash of naivete, shortsightedness, worn-out prejudices, and unrealistic political fantasies.

China Daily warned that  should Trump  act on them in the real world, it would be disastrous and would set a course for devastating confrontation between China and the US.

“After all, how can the US deny China access to its own territories without inviting the latter’s legitimate, defensive responses?

Tillerson wanted a reality-based China policy that is “based on what we see and not based on what we hope”.

“But what he presented was based more on what prejudice and arms-spurred self-righteousness make him believe and hope rather than on real-world realities.

What happened on Wednesday shows that if and when confirmed, Rex Tillerson needs to first acquaint himself with the ABCs of China-US relations and diplomacy at large.

Satellite photos show China has been hard at work building military facilities in the contested waters, which are also claimed by the Philippines and Vietnam, among others.

Under US President Barack Obama, Washington has claimed Beijing’s activities in the region threaten freedom of navigation and overflight through the commercially and strategically vital waters.

But is has not taken a position on the ownership of the islets, reefs and shoals that sit in one of the world’s hotspots.

Tillerson, however, explicitly said that the territories “are not rightfully China’s.”

“Unless Washington plans to wage a large scale war in the South China Sea, any other approaches to prevent Chinese access to the islands will be foolish,” the nationalistic Global Times wrote in an editorial.

The paper, which is thought to have some insight into the thinking of more hawkish members of Chinese Communist Party, added that Tillerson better “bone up on nuclear power strategies if he wants to force a big nuclear power to withdraw from its own territories.”

For China, Tillerson uttered astonishing statements during his confirmation hearing as he likened China’s island-building in the South China Sea to “Russia’s taking of Crimea,” and said the new US government would 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.”

Due to his intimate relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tillerson is the most controversial candidate among President-elect Trump’s nominees for his cabinet and is considered the one most likely to be vetoed by the Senate.

It is suspected that he merely wanted to curry favor from senators and increase his chances of being confirmed by intentionally showing a tough stance toward China.

Tillerson did not give details of how he would achieve his self-proclaimed goals. Nonetheless, he also mentioned that Chinese and American economic interests are deeply intertwined and that “China has been a valuable ally in curtailing elements of radical Islam.”

He noted that “We should not let disagreements over other issues exclude areas for productive partnership.”

It is not clear which point, among the many he made, he will prioritize. But it is worth looking at his remarks that China should not be allowed access to the islands, since this is the most radical statement from the US side so far,” The Global Times editorial said.

“The US has no absolute power to dominate the South China Sea. Tillerson had better bone up on nuclear power strategies if he wants to force a big nuclear power to withdraw from its own territories.

 Probably he just has oil prices and currency rates in his mind as former ExxonMobil CEO,” the paper said..

“He also lacks legality. If China is not allowed access to islands it has long controlled, does this also apply to Vietnam and the Philippines? Should the Nansha Islands become a depopulated zone? What does so-called US freedom of navigation around the Nansha Islands mean?”

The paper added: “South China Sea countries will accelerate their negotiations on a Code of Conduct. They have the ability to solve divergences by themselves without US interference. Just as the Philippines and Vietnam are trying to warm their ties with China, Tillerson’s words cannot be more irritating.

“It is hoped that Tillerson will desire a productive partnership with China more and his harsh words are just coaxing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.”

It has previously called on Beijing to increase its nuclear arsenal after Donald Trump threatened to upend decades of US policy on Taiwan by suggesting he could recognize the island, which China regards as an indisputable part of its sovereign territory.

China’s official reaction to the comments was muted, with foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang politely urging Washington to mind its own business.

“The South China Sea situation has cooled down and we hope non-regional countries can respect the consensus that it is in the fundamental interest of the whole world,” he said.

In a press briefing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry has stated its position on this matter.

“Like the US, the Chinese side has full right to conduct any kind of normal activities on its own territory within its sovereignty. It is above reproach,” said spokesman Lu Kang.

Both papers, despite their warnings, agreed that it was too early to tell if Tillerson’s words were more bark than bite.

But the Global Times warned, that does not mean that the Trump administration should think Beijing has not heard his team’s outspoken anti-China rhetoric.

The president-elect has filled his team with hardliners like Peter Navarro, the author of “Death by China”, and has threatened to declare Beijing a currency manipulator and slap it with 45 percent tariffs.

China is letting those comments slide for now, the Global Times wrote, but “if Trump’s diplomatic team shapes future Sino-US ties as it is doing now, the two sides had better prepare for a military clash.”

“China has enough determination and strength to make sure that his rabble rousing will not succeed,” Global Times said.

The paper argued that Tillerson’s suggestion “lacks legality” since “if China is not allowed access to islands it has long controlled,” this would also apply to Vietnam and the Philippines.

Lu said  “China and other coastal states in the South China Sea have worked out a dual-track approach, namely, China and other countries directly concerned peacefully resolve disputes through consultation and negotiation.”

Giving primary focus on this current status, Lu said  that “outsiders should respect that.”

While the paper did not discount the possibility that Tillerson’s declaration might just be a product to persuade the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to confirm him, it warned that “no matter what, China will always respond to various US diplomatic maneuvers.”

It added: “Tillerson’s statements regarding the islands in the South China Sea are far from professional. If Trump’s diplomatic team shapes future Sino-US ties as it is doing now, the two sides had better prepare for a military clash.”

Continuing with its bold words, The Global Times said “the US should not be misled into thinking that Beijing will be fearful of their threats.”

“As Trump has yet to be sworn in, China has shown restraint whenever his team members expressed radical views,” it cleared.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/headlines/trump-pick-could-talk-his-way-into-war-chinese-media