Marco Rubio Vows To Stand Up To China At Crucial Asia Summit

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived successful Southeast Asia arsenic U.S. friends warned of mounting world threats, pinch wars successful nan Middle East, rising tensions successful nan South China Sea and Myanmar's civilian conflict dominating a high-stakes location summit.

Rubio is attending meetings led by nan Association of Southeast Asian Nations, aliases ASEAN, alongside Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and elder officials from Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, Russia, Britain and nan European Union.

Ahead of nan gathering, Rubio reaffirmed U.S. support for state of navigation successful nan South China Sea, informing successful an sentiment portion published successful Philippine newspapers that nan region faced increasing risks if captious shipping lanes fell nether nan power of "a powerfulness consenting to usage commerce arsenic a geopolitical weapon."

While he did not sanction China, Rubio said specified a script would airs "dire caller threats" to nan sovereignty, information and economical early of some nan United States and ASEAN nations.

Rubio besides reiterated U.S. support for a 2016 world arbitration ruling that rejected China's sweeping territorial claims successful nan South China Sea. Beijing rejects nan ruling.

The acme comes arsenic ASEAN overseas ministers grapple pinch a activity of world crises.

In a associated connection aft a closed-door meeting, ministers said they were "deeply concerned" that renewed conflict involving nan United States and Iran was undermining negotiated efforts and reducing nan chances of a serene resolution.

The conflict has heightened fears complete world power supplies flowing done nan Strait of Hormuz aft Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi activity announced a naval blockade connected Saudi Arabia, raising concerns astir lipid prices, ostentation and economical growth.

The 10-member ASEAN bloc, whose economies trust heavy connected imported energy, has been exploring ways to accelerate a location oil-sharing system to thief cushion immoderate proviso disruption.

Regional leaders are besides confronting nan ongoing civilian warfare successful Myanmar, wherever consultations proceed complete a stalled bid scheme 5 years aft nan subject seized power.

The South China Sea remains different flashpoint.

Philippine and Chinese officials are expected to clasp talks aft some sides accused each different of vulnerable actions adjacent nan disputed Second Thomas Shoal.

The Philippine subject said Chinese Coast Guard unit struck 1 of its sailors pinch a baton during a confrontation, an allegation that further escalated tensions. Both governments person accused nan different of provocation.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to summon China's ambassador successful Manila pursuing nan incident.

China's overseas ministry said ASEAN was not nan due venue for resolving bilateral maritime disputes and urged nan Philippines, this year's ASEAN chair, to beforehand speech alternatively of advancing its ain governmental interests.

The U.S. State Department condemned what it called China's "dangerous and aggressive" actions, saying they reflected a troubling shape of behaviour against Philippine maritime operations.

Against that backdrop, Rubio's meetings pinch location leaders are expected to attraction connected security, waste and acquisition and Washington's committedness to friends facing what he has described arsenic increasing coercive unit successful nan Indo-Pacific.