Is Trump ready for war in the South China Sea, or is his team just not being clear? By Simon Denyer

[WhiteTara]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2017/01/24/is-trump-ready-for-war-in-the-south-china-sea-or-is-his-team-just-not-being-clear/?utm_term=.39f56b292969

Was this a prelude to a major escalation in the South China Sea, or is the Trump administration foreign policy team having trouble articulating itself?

On Monday, new White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the United States would prevent China from taking over territory in international waters in the South China Sea.

His comments were widely interpreted as doubling down on remarks by Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, on Jan. 11 that the United States would not allow China access to islands it has built in the South China Sea, and upon which it has installed weapons systems and built military-length airstrips.

“The U.S. is going to make sure that we protect our interests there,” Spicer said when asked if President Trump agreed with his nominee.

[SamKnause]

1. He is ready for war with the world.

It will not affect the person he cares about, Trump.

[WhiteTara]

3. He's desparate to use our

nuclear arsenal. That would be really Yuuge and the best and totally bigly beautiful.

[cilla4progress]

2. Eventually he's going to piss off

The wrong people.