'Mad Dog' Mattis; Warns China it Will defend "International Territories" South China Sea TOKYO: US Defense Secretary James Mattis on Saturday played down any need for major US military moves in the South China Sea to contend with China's assertive behavior, even as he sharply criticized Beijing for "shredding the trust of nations in the region." "At this time, we do not see any need for dramatic military moves at all," Mattis told a news conference in Tokyo, stressing that the focus should be on diplomacy. In his Senate confirmation hearing, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China should not be allowed access to islands it has built in the contested South China Sea. The White House also vowed to defend "international territories" in the strategic waterway. Analysts have said Tillerson's remarks, like those from the White House, suggested the possibility of US military action, or even a naval blockade. Such action would risk an armed confrontation with China, an increasingly formidable nuclear-armed military power. It is also the world's second-largest economy and the prime target of Trump accusations of stealing American jobs. Mattis, Japanese Counterpart Conduct News Conference This work, Mattis, Japanese Counterpart Conduct News Conference, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDWzBDnH2NA