Rubio highlights the “strong commitment” of the US to the Philippines in the face of China’s “dangerous” actions in the region

MADRID Jan. 23 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Secretary of the United States Department of State, Marco Rubio, has highlighted the “strong commitment” of the new US Administration headed by Donald Trump with the Philippine authorities – who claim to be “victims” of “Chinese aggression” in the South China Sea– in a call with his Filipino counterpart, Enrique Manalo, in his first contact after taking office this Tuesday.

“(Rubio) has conveyed that the behavior of the People’s Republic of China undermines regional peace and stability and is incompatible with International Law. He has underlined the strong commitment of the United States to the Philippines under the Mutual Defense Treaty,” reads a statement attributed to his spokesperson, Tammy Bruce.

Along these lines, the American and Philippine representatives have addressed “issues of mutual interest, including the dangerous and destabilizing actions” of the Asian giant “in the South China Sea”, as well as “ways to advance security cooperation, expand economic ties” and improve “regional cooperation.

For his part, the Philippine Foreign Minister confirmed the telephone conversation, with a message on his social network account Peaceful”. “We look forward to working with Rubio and his team to address the challenges and maintain the momentum and positive trajectory of our bilateral relations,” he added.

The two countries have seen increased tension recently. In mid-January, Philippine authorities accused the Chinese government of intimidating its fishermen while they fished in disputed waters near Masinloc Shoal, a sandbar also known as Scarborough and located in the South China Sea.

Manila has warned that the Asian giant is trying to “normalize” its “illegal presence” in the area by sending one of the largest Coast Guard vessels to waters that the Philippines considers part of its exclusive economic zone.