Rubio says the US is ready to go to the Philippines to call out China’s ‘dangerous’ actions via Reuters

(Reuters) – The new US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, discussed China’s “dangerous and destructive actions in the South China Sea” with his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday and emphasized the security commitment of ” ironclad” of the US in Manila.

“Secretary Rubio suggested that (China’s) behavior undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law,” the US State Department said in a statement with the Secretary of State Abroad Enrique Manalo.

The Philippines has had a maritime dispute with China for the past two years and the two countries have frequently clashed in the South China Sea which falls within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.

Rubio’s call followed his hosting of allies from Australia, India and Japan at the China-focused “Quad” summit on Tuesday, a day after President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The four are willing to work together.

Quad members and the Philippines share concerns about China’s growing power and analysts said Tuesday’s meeting was designed to show progress in the Indo-Pacific and that reading Beijing would be a priority. to Trump.

In the call and remarks, Rubio “stressed the firm commitment of the United States to the Philippines” under the Mutual Security Treaty and discussed ways to advance defense cooperation, expand economic ties and deepen regional cooperation, said the statement.

Shortly before Trump’s inauguration, the Philippines and the United States conducted their fifth naval exercise in the South China Sea since they began joint operations in 2023.

Defense ties between the allies have increased under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has become closer to Washington and allowed the expansion of military bases within reach of American forces, including facilities targeting an island that is said to be China but is ruled by the democratic Taiwan.

When he visited the Philippines last week, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said that the trilateral initiative to strengthen cooperation launched by Japan, the US and the Philippines at a meeting last year will be strengthened when A new US administration takes control in Washington.