Advertisement
South China Sea
ChinaDiplomacy

Steve Bannon: 'we're going to war in the South China Sea ... no doubt'

Only months ago US President Donald Trump’s chief strategist predicted military involvement in east Asia and the Middle East in Breitbart radio shows

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon listens at right as US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting on cyber security in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Photo: AP
The Guardian

The United States and China will fight a war within the next ten years over islands in the South China Sea, and “there’s no doubt about that”. At the same time, the US will be in another “major” war in the Middle East.

Those are the views – nine months ago at least – of one of the most powerful men in Donald Trump’s administration, Steve Bannon, the former head of far-right news website Breitbart who is now chief strategist at the White House.

In the first weeks of Trump’s presidency, Bannon has emerged as a central figure. He was appointed to the “principals committee” of the National Security Council in a highly unusual move and was influential in the recent travel ban on citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, overruling Department of Homeland Security officials who felt the order did not apply to green card holders.
Advertisement

While many in Trump’s team are outspoken critics of China, in radio shows Bannon hosted for Breitbart he makes plain the two largest threats to America: China and Islam.

China's South Sea Fleet take part in a drill in the Xisha Islands, or the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. File photo: AFP
China's South Sea Fleet take part in a drill in the Xisha Islands, or the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. File photo: AFP
Advertisement
“We’re going to war in the South China Sea in five to 10 years,” he said in March 2016.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x