Trump's challenge: Can he stop conflict in the South China Sea?

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/09/politics/donald-trump-china-global-headaches/index.html

"We can't continue to allow China to rape our country, and that's what they're doing," Trump said at a rally in Indiana in May. 

In my opinion, the answer is no. In light of the near certainty that Trump will scrap President Barack Obama’s strategic “pivot to Asia” (Trans-Pacific Partnership), Chinese leaders will be especially emboldened to challenge American presence in Asia.

Under President Barack Obama’s administration, the U.S. has consistently opposed China’s unilateral claims to sovereignty over much of the South China Sea. If Trump believes that the South China Sea is none of Washington’s business, Beijing will likely further escalate its activities, such as building military facilities and drilling for oil, thus escalating risks of conflict with Vietnam and the Philippines. As more than $5 trillion worth of commerce transits through the South China Sea each other, a military conflict or acceptance of China’s de facto control of the area will gravely undermine American security interests.