In a stern warning to China, the US has said it will protect its interests in the disputed South China Sea and defend international territories from being taken over by "one country".
"I think areas in the South China Sea that are part of international waters and international activities... I think the US is going to make sure that we protect our interests there," White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his first news conference.
"So it's a question of if those islands are in fact in international waters and not part of China proper, then yes, we're gonna make sure that we defend international territories from being taken over by one country," Spicer said.
He was responding to a question related to a recent statement made by Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson that US would deny China access to these islands as they are in international waters.
China in a strongly worded statement had warned US of a war if it is denied the access.