"This is a threat to the entire global economy, if China is allowed to somehow dictate the terms of passage through these waters," Tillerson told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But Tillerson’s comments had foreign policy experts in the United States and China scratching their heads in befuddlement. “I think it’s probably a shot across the bow, and that they are planning other very assertive actions in the South China Sea.”Among the more hawkish ideas that have been considered, he said, are more regular movements of U.S. warships in the South China Sea, and in closer proximity to Chinese naval formations. It has even been suggested that the United States could build floating bases in the South China Sea — essentially a U.S. version of what China is doing. 8:05 p.m.: This article was updated with background on the U.S. position on the South China Sea.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 13, 2017 01:41 UTC