Rubio says US committed to Philippines in call about China’s ‘dangerous’ actions By Reuters

(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 underscored the U.S.’s “ironclad” defense commitment to Manila.

“Secretary Rubio conveyed that (China’s) behavior undermines regional peace and stability and is contrary to international law,” the US State Department said in a statement on his phone call with Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo.

The Philippines has been embroiled in maritime disputes with China for the past two years, and the two countries have regularly clashed over disputed areas in the South China Sea that fall under Manila’s exclusive economic zone.

Rubio’s call followed the hosting of counterparts from Australia, India and Japan at a China-focused Quad forum on Tuesday, the day after President Donald Trump returned to the White House.The four recommitted to working together.

Quad members and the Philippines share concerns about China’s growing power, and analysts say Tuesday’s meeting is meant to signal continuity in the Indo-Pacific region and that countering Beijing will be a priority for Trump.

During the conversation with Manalo, Rubio “underscored the ironclad commitment of the United States to the Philippines under their Mutual Defense Treaty” and discussed ways to develop security cooperation, expand economic ties and deepen regional cooperation, the statement said.

Just before Trump’s inauguration, the Philippines and the United States held the fifth set of joint naval exercises in the South China Sea since the start of joint operations in 2023.

Security ties between the allies have risen under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has drawn closer to Washington and allowed an expansion of military bases accessible to American forces, including facilities off the Chinese-claimed but democratically-ruled island of Taiwan. :

On a visit to the Philippines last week, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said at a summit last year that the trilateral initiative to promote cooperation between Japan, the US and the Philippines will be strengthened when the new US administration takes over in Washington.