The new administration of President Donald Trump vowed on Monday that the United States would prevent China from taking over territory in international waters in the South China Sea, something Chinese state media has warned would require Washington to "wage war." The comments at a briefing from White House spokesman Sean Spicer signaled a sharp departure from years of cautious U.S. handling of China's assertive pursuit of territory claims in Asia, just days after Trump took office on Friday.

Brunnstrom, D., & Spetalnick, M. (2017, January 25). Trump vows to stop China from taking South China Sea islands. Malaya Business Insight, p. B5.