Just look at the situation in the Philippines at Second Thomas Shoal. They're actively baiting the US.
How about we don't take the "bait" in the South CHINA Sea that is thousands of miles away from even the furthest abroad US territory (Guam)?
Very little of the South China See is owned by China. China doesn't own it any more than Japan owns the Sea of Japan.
Just look at the situation in the Philippines at Second Thomas Shoal. They're actively baiting the US.