beijing donald trump presidency mean unite state withdraw south china sea rather continue pursue regional hegemony chinese academics draft report influential government think tank say friday ensure absolute control south china sea crux u.s. military strategy asia-pacific accord author say china first ever public report u.s. military presence region release friday beijing overturn change u.s. policy south china sea say wu shicun head national institute south china sea study influential hainan-based think tank write report trump rarely mention south china sea campaign trail concentrate economic relationship beijing threaten label china currency manipulator impose import tariff chinese import u.s. commitments ally would change would stance protect freedom navigation south china sea say wu tensions china unite state south china sea would likely grow lock-step china military growth add china claim energy-rich water trillion ship-borne trade pass every year neighbor brunei malaysia philippines taiwan vietnam also claim recent u.s. efforts counter see china limit freedom navigation south china sea draw beijing ire stoke fear military conflict patrol u.s. warships october dub illegal provocative chinese defence ministry u.s. perspective china large-scale construction activities south china sea confirm u.s. suspicion china intend implement anti-access/area-denial strategy report say would continuity change trump military policy asia-pacific say zhu feng director south china sea center nanjing university report launch trump may use term rebalancing region would likely retain policies add academics agree high possibility increase u.s. military spend asia-pacific trump trump administration would exception republican-led governments increase military spend take office say zhu feng build-up military might region lead worry rise risk accidental collisions could spark conflict zhu say decision release public report china prepare war rather avoid arm race china unite state trump pursue 'regional hegemony south china sea chinese academics