U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a discussion on Wednesday with his Philippine counterpart, focusing on China’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea.” Rubio emphasized the “ironclad” U.S. defense commitment to the Philippines during their exchange.
According to a statement from the U.S. State Department, Rubio highlighted that China’s actions “undermine regional peace and stability and are inconsistent with international law” during his conversation with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo.
Rubio assured Manalo of the U.S. ‘ steadfast obligations under the Mutual Defense Treaty and explored avenues to enhance security cooperation, strengthen economic ties, and deepen regional partnerships.
In recent years, the Philippines has encountered repeated maritime disputes with China, particularly concerning contested areas in the South China Sea that lie within Manila’s exclusive economic zone.
Rubio’s remarks followed his meeting with officials from Australia, India, and Japan as part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (The Quad), a China-focused coalition. This meeting, held the day after President Donald Trump resumed office, underscored a unified commitment to addressing Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
The Quad members and the Philippines share concerns about China’s expanding influence, with analysts noting that Tuesday’s meeting aimed to demonstrate continuity in the Indo-Pacific and reaffirm that countering Beijing would remain a key focus for Trump.
China, through its foreign ministry, has described its actions in the South China Sea as “reasonable, lawful, and beyond reproach.” Spokesperson Mao Ning asserted that the U.S. was “not a party” to the disputes and had “no right to intervene” in maritime issues involving China and the Philippines. She further stated, “Military cooperation between the U.S. 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.”
The Philippine defense department, in a separate statement, noted that the country was among the first to engage with the new U.S. administration on critical security issues. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro met with U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz at the White House on Thursday, reaffirming the enduring alliance between the two nations.
Shortly before Trump’s inauguration, the Philippines and the U.S. conducted their fifth round of joint maritime drills in the South China Sea since initiating such activities in 2023.
According to Reuters, under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., security cooperation with the U.S. has significantly increased. The Marcos administration has strengthened ties with Washington, permitting the expansion of U.S. access to military bases in the Philippines, including facilities positioned near Taiwan, a democratically governed island claimed by China.
