The Chinese government reiterated its rejection of U.S. intervention in the South China Sea disputes, where the Philippines and China have tensions over sovereignty issues. The United States, which has a mutual defense pact with the Philippines, remains aloof from the direct controversy, but the Philippines relies on U.S. support in this situation.
China claims most of these waters, crucial for global trade and rich in resources such as oil and gas. Disputes in the region have been increasing in recent years, coinciding with the election of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as president of the Philippines in 2022. The Chinese government urged the Philippines not to harm its sovereignty or maritime rights and criticized the installation of missiles on its territory as a dangerous action.
Amid these tensions, Donald Trump's return to the White House has raised concerns in Asia about the future U.S. policies in the region. The new U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has condemned China's actions in the South China Sea, while China defends its claims backed by international legality.
China has reaffirmed that its maritime activities are reasonable and legal and has insisted that the United States should not intervene in the regional conflict. In this scenario, the Philippines seeks to maintain international support, especially from the United States, to address the growing tensions with China in the South China Sea.
