The United States condemned China’s dangerous and aggressive actions after a clash with the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea as Rubio arrived in Manila for ASEAN meetings. The State Department said China’s provocations undermine regional peace and stability and contradict commitments to resolve disputes peacefully. Rubio, open to meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila, reaffirmed the US commitment to freedom of navigation and the U.S. security umbrella in the region. He has previously met Wang Yi, and in an op-ed stressed that freedom of navigation is essential for Southeast Asia and that the waters are vital to global trade. Beijing’s claims to almost the entire South China Sea persist despite an international ruling, and the Philippines has accused China’s coast guard of injuring a Filipino sailor amid ongoing tensions. Rubio’s comments emphasized deterring those who would weaponize trade and maintaining stability in the region.