Marco Rubio stresses US commitment to Philippines in call about China’s ‘dangerous’ actions
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed China's “dangerous and destabilising actions in the South China Sea” with his Philippine counterpart.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – New US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed China’s “dangerous and destabilising actions in the South China Sea” with his Philippine counterpart on Jan 22 and underscored the “ironclad” US defence commitment to Manila.
“Secretary Rubio conveyed that (China’s) behaviour undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law,” the US State Department said in a statement on his call with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo.
The Philippines has been embroiled in wrangles at sea with China in the past two years, and the two countries have faced off regularly around disputed features in the South China Sea
Mr Rubio’s call followed his hosting of counterparts from Australia, India and Japan in the China-focused Quad forum on Jan 21, the day after President Donald Trump returned to the White House.
The four sides recommitted to working together
Quad members and the Philippines share concerns about China’s growing power, and analysts said the Jan 21 meeting was designed to signal continuity in the Indo-Pacific and that countering Beijing will be a top priority for Mr Trump.
In the call with Mr Manalo, Mr Rubio “underscored the United States’ ironclad commitments to the Philippines” under their mutual defence treaty and discussed ways to advance security cooperation, expand economic ties and deepen regional cooperation, the statement said.
Speaking at a regular press conference, Chinese ministry spokewoman Mao Ning said the US was “not a party” to the South China Sea dispute, and had “no right to intervene” in maritime issues between China and the Philippines.
“Military cooperation between the US and the Philippines should not undermine China’s sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, nor should it be used to endorse the illegal claims of the Philippines,” Ms Mao said.
The Philippines, a US defence treaty ally, is among the first countries to engage with the new US administration to discuss critical security matters, Manila’s Defence Department said in a statement.
Its Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz met at the White House on Jan 23 to reaffirm the enduring alliance between their countries.
Just ahead of Mr Trump’s swearing-in, the Philippines and the US carried out their fifth set of joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea since launching the joint activities in 2023.
Security engagements between the allies have soared under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who has pivoted closer to Washington and allowed the expansion of military bases that American forces can access, including facilities facing the Chinese-claimed but democratically governed island of Taiwan.
Visiting the Philippines last week, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said a trilateral initiative to boost cooperation launched by Japan, the US and the Philippines at a summit in 2024 would be strengthened when the new US administration took over in Washington. REUTERS
