Trump admin affirms ‘ironclad’ commitment to PH amid China’s ‘dangerous’ actions

The United States under the administration of newly-inaugurated President Donald Trump affirmed its “ironclad commitment” to the Philippines amid the “dangerous” actions of China in the South China Sea.

In a readout released on Wednesday (US time), US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruce said Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo and discussed China’s “dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea.”

“Secretary Rubio conveyed that the PRC’s behavior undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law,” Bruce said.

“The Secretary underscored the United States’ ironclad commitments to the Philippines under our Mutual Defense Treaty,” she added.

Aside from this, Bruce said Rubio and Manalo also tackled ways to advance security cooperation, expand economic ties for shared prosperity, and deepen avenues for further regional cooperation.

Manalo on Wednesday (Manila time) also shared his discussion with Rubio.

“We discussed the importance of the PH-US alliance for the prosperity and security of the Indo Pacific, and the strength of our bilateral political, economic, and people-to-people ties,” Manalo said on X (formerly Twitter).

(1/2) Happy to speak tonight to the 72nd U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio @marcorubio and congratulate him on his appointment. We discussed the importance of the PH-US alliance for the prosperity and security of the Indo Pacific, and the strength of our bilateral political...

— Enrique A. Manalo ???????? (@SecManalo) January 22, 2025

“We look forward to working with Secretary Rubio and his team towards addressing challenges and sustaining the momentum and positive trajectory in our bilateral relations.”

The Philippine government has taken Trump’s victory with optimism despite his controversial stance against illegal immigrants in the US, where there are millions of Filipinos working.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said earlier that he looks forward to working with the returning US president on a wide range of issues that "will yield mutual benefits to two nations with deep ties, shared beliefs, common vision, and a long history of working together."

The US has been the Philippines’ longtime ally especially in maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Both countries have been vocal against the aggressions by China in the South China Sea.

During his confirmation hearing, Rubio asked China not to mess with the Philippines and Taiwan amid the tensions in the disputed waters. He also flagged Beijing for the continuing presence of its “monster ship” in the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

The new Trump appointee is also a supporter of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty of Manila and Washington, which binds both countries to come to each other’s aid during an attack.

—VAL, GMA Integrated News