WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, discussed "coordination on addressing China’s destabilising actions in the South China Sea” and increased economic cooperation in a meeting in Munich on Friday (Feb 14), according to the US State Department.
"Secretary Rubio not only reaffirmed US commitment to the United States-Philippines Alliance, but noted his enthusiasm for building an even more invested and enduring relationship,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
Their talks during the Munich Security Conference included increasing cooperation on infrastructure, critical minerals, information technology and energy, including through civil nuclear cooperation, the statement said.
In January, Rubio criticised China’s "dangerous and destabilizing” actions in the South China Sea and reaffirmed Washington’s "ironclad” commitment to defend Manila. - Bloomberg
