Rubio’s remarks got here because the area is grappling with a sequence of overlapping claims by China and ASEAN member states within the South China Sea, one other essential maritime route for international commerce.
His arrival within the Philippines on Tuesday morning coincided with the US condemnation of a latest conflict between Chinese language and Philippine sailors within the disputed waterway.
Rubio is to satisfy his Chinese language counterpart Wang Yi on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, the place he will even have talks with fellow Quad members India, Australia and Japan, and others.
The secretary of state added that the US stays “open” to diplomacy with Iran however that Tehran just isn’t “critical”.
“America stays open and keen to interact in constructive and constructive negotiations and discussions, supplied that the commitments made are honoured,” he stated.
“The issue we’re at present going through is that they don’t seem to be taking the negotiations severely,” Rubio stated.
“If they’re critical, we will likely be too. If they don’t seem to be, then we’ll do what is important to guard our pursuits and people of our allies.”
