Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed deep concerns about China's unlawful actions in the South China Sea, highlighting that these actions have injured individuals and harmed vessels from Southeast Asian nations.
Blinken committed to uphold freedom of navigation in contested waters, emphasizing the US's intention to collaborate with ASEAN to ensure stability, especially regarding China's claims and the ongoing tensions over Taiwan.
He condemned China’s military deployments aimed at ejecting the Philippines from vital strategic reefs, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions and posing threats that could lead to conflict.
The South China Sea, crucial for global trade, is now a flashpoint with China asserting expansive claims, as Blinken reassured ASEAN of US support against such coercive tactics.
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