Philippines, US to cooperate on 'destabilizing actions' in SCS

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio have committed to ramping up cooperation to address Beijing’s “destabilizing actions” in the South China Sea.

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Manalo — who is in the United States for a working visit — spoke to the US’ top diplomat in Washington, D.C. on Monday, June 9, where they discussed “wide-ranging issues under the Philippines-U.S. partnership,” according to a statement by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo in Washington, D.C. to underscore the U.S.-Philippines Alliance’s vital role in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” US Department of State Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement released early Tuesday morning.

Both nations’ top diplomats “committed to deepening cooperation on addressing China’s destabilizing actions in the South China Sea and to increasing economic cooperation to mutually benefit American and Philippine citizens,” Bruce added.

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