Keystone-SDA
The United States remains committed to the defense of the Philippines under a mutual treaty, new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday. Tensions between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea have been escalating for some time.
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January 23, 2025 – 01:21
(Keystone-ATS) In a call with his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo, Mr. Rubio “underscored the unwavering commitment of the United States to the Philippines under our Mutual Defense Treaty,” said the spokesperson for the Department of Defense. State, Tammy Bruce, in a press release.
The new head of American diplomacy advocates a hard line towards China. He denounced Beijing’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea,” according to the statement.
-“Secretary Rubio made it known that China’s behavior undermined regional peace and stability and was not consistent with international law,” according to the same source.
Veiled warning
Mr. Rubio called his Philippine counterpart after issuing a veiled warning to Beijing on the South China Sea the day before during a quadripartite meeting with his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia.
China claims most of this strategic waterway, despite an international ruling ruling that the claim has no legal basis.
Regular confrontations between Chinese and Filipino ships have raised concerns that they could draw the United States, Manila’s historic security ally, into armed conflict with China.
World
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