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Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday reassured the Philippine top diplomat in a phone call that the United States is supporting Southeast Asian countries after China’s recent actions in the region, according to a report.
Reuters reported that Blinken told Teodoro Locsin, his Filipino counterpart, that the United States rejects Beijing’s claims to the South China Sea and only recognizes claims under international law.
UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR CALLS FOR REFORM HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, AS SUBMITTED TO JOIN
China stepped up activities in Taiwan’s airspace on Sunday, flying 15 fighter jets between mainland Taiwan and the Pratas Islands in the South China Sea, according to a report.
Reuters, which cited the Taiwan Defense Ministry, reported that the jets included six J-10 fighters, two SU-30s and other military jets. A day earlier, China flew eight bombers and four fighters in the same airspace, according to the report.
HALEY SAYS BIDEN JOINING UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL WOULD “ FLY IN THE FACE ” OF PUSH RIGHTS
Blinken said in a confirmation hearing on Tuesday that there is “no doubt” that China poses the greatest threat of any country to the United States and that the Trump administration was right to take a firmer position against Asian power.
“President Trump was right to take a tougher approach on China,” said Blinken, then Vice President Biden’s national security adviser before he was elevated to secretary of China. Deputy State under Barack Obama. “Not the way he went about it in many ways, but the basic premise was right.”
Morgan Phillips of Fox News contributed to this report
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