US Secretary of State Antony Blinken strongly criticized China’s actions in the South China Sea, saying they are getting “more dangerous.” He emphasized the importance of allowing ships to travel freely and safely during a meeting with leaders from Southeast Asian nations on Friday in Laos.
Blinken expressed worries about China’s actions, which he believes are harmful to people and boats from countries in the ASEAN group. He mentioned that these actions go against promises made to solve disagreements peacefully.
“The United States will keep supporting the freedom for ships and planes to move in the Indo-Pacific area,” he stated.
He also expressed hope that the US could work together with ASEAN leaders to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, which has seen rising tensions after China’s recent criticism of Taiwan’s president.
During this important Southeast Asian meeting, Blinken is representing the US. Leaders have voiced their concerns about the ongoing disputes in the South China Sea, which has alarmed the Philippines due to recent violent incidents related to China’s claims in the area.
Another important topic at the meeting is the situation in Myanmar. For the first time in over three years, a representative from Myanmar’s military government attended the ASEAN meeting. It’s unclear if there was any direct communication between Blinken and the Myanmar representative.
Blinken also wanted to talk about the worsening crisis in Myanmar and used the country’s official name instead of the older name, Burma.
Additionally, he urged the leaders to stay strong against Russia’s actions in Ukraine, especially with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attending the upcoming East Asia Summit.
