(Reuters) – New U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed China’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea” with his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday and stressed the “armored” U.S. defense commitment to Manila.
“Secretary Rubio conveyed that (China’s) behavior undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law,” the US State Department said in a statement after his meeting with Foreign Minister Enrique Manala.
The Philippines has been embroiled in maritime disputes with China for the past two years and the two countries have regularly clashed over disputed parts of the South China Sea that fall under Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
Rubio’s call came after he hosted counterparts from Australia, India and Japan at a China-focused “Quad” forum on Tuesday, a day after President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The four re-committed to cooperation.
The Quartet and the Philippines share concerns about China’s growing power, and analysts say Tuesday’s meeting is designed to signal continuity in the Indo-Pacific and that countering Beijing will be a top priority for Trump.
In his conversation with Manala, Rubio “underscored the strong commitments of the United States to the Philippines” under their Mutual Defense Treaty and discussed ways to enhance security cooperation, expand economic ties and deepen regional cooperation, the statement said.
Just ahead of Trump’s inauguration, the Philippines and the United States conducted their fifth set of joint naval exercises in the South China Sea since the launch of joint activities in 2023.
Security engagements between the allies have increased under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has drawn closer to Washington and allowed the expansion of military bases accessible to US forces, including facilities facing the Chinese-claimed but democratically-governed island of Taiwan.
During a visit to the Philippines last week, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said the trilateral initiative to boost cooperation launched by Japan, the US and the Philippines at a summit last year will be strengthened when the new US administration takes over in Washington.
