?We?re going to war in the South China Sea in five to 10 years, aren?t we? There?s no doubt about that. They?re taking their sandbars and making basically stationary aircraft carriers and putting missiles on those. They come here to the United States in front of our face ? and you understand how important face is ? and say it?s an ancient territorial sea,? Bannon said.
Last month, Tillerson aggravated the already tense relations between the two countries by saying that China should not be allowed access to the islands 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 also is not going to be allowed,? Tillerson said.
However, Chinese experts speculated at the time that Beijing is likely to retaliate if Washington bars China from accessing the South China Sea.
Apart from this, prior to his swearing-in ceremony Trump said that the U.S. does not necessarily have to abide by the "One China" policy ? which has more or less formed the basis of diplomatic relations between the two countries since 1979. China, which was already upset with Trump?s telephone call with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen following the presidential win, reacted sharply over the then president-elect?s comments.
?If Trump reneges on the one-China policy after taking office, the Chinese people will demand the government to take revenge. There is no room for bargaining. Sticking to [the one China] principle is not a capricious request by China upon US presidents, but an obligation of US presidents to maintain China-US relations and respect the existing order of the Asia-Pacific,? the Global Times said in an editorial last month.
White House?s Steve Bannon thinks war with China is imminent: ?Thereâ??s no doubt about that?
Will US Go To War With China? Beijing Will Take â??Revengeâ?? If Washington Abandons â??One Chinaâ?? Policy, State-Run Newspaper Warns