SINGAPORE — U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has raised the prospect of additional American steps against China if its “militarization” of the South China Sea keeps apace.
He said Beijing was intimidating and coercing others in the region by putting weapons systems on manmade islands.
Mattis’ remarks Saturday at an international security forum in Singapore were endorsed by President Donald Trump, who said on Twitter: “Very surprised that China would be doing this?”
Mattis said the Trump administration’s recent decision to disinvite China from a multinational naval exercise this summer was an “initial response” to Beijing’s island activity. Mattis called the U.S. action a “relatively small consequence. I believe there are much larger consequences in the future.”
