Beijing, Washington drawing red lines over South China Sea

Washington

CHINA said on Tuesday it had "irrefutable" sovereignty over disputed islands in the South China Sea after the White House vowed to defend "international territories" in the strategic waterway.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer in his comments on Monday signalled a sharp departure from years of cautious US handling of China's assertive pursuit of territorial claims in Asia. "The US is going to make sure that we protect our interests there," Mr Spicer said when asked if President Donald Trump agreed with comments by his secretary of state nominee, Rex Tillerson.

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