Hong Kong (CNN) Chinese state media has taken aim at Rex Tillerson, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, after he suggested a more aggressive strategy toward Beijing in the contested waters of the South China Sea. JUST WATCHED Tillerson slams China over South China Sea Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Tillerson slams China over South China Sea 02:05The English-language China Daily took a similar stance but questioned whether Tillerson's views would translate into US foreign policy. He said that the situation in the South China Sea had "cooled down" and should be resolved by the claimants in the region. Under the Obama administration, the US has repeatedly called for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and sailed and flown its assets near the islands China controls -- drawing repeated warnings from China. 'Extremely worrisome'Tillerson said Wednesday that China's activity in the South China Sea, which sees $5 trillion in shipborne trade a year, was "extremely worrisome."

Source: CNN January 13, 2017 06:59 UTC