The United States has expressed its disapproval of China’s recent coast guard activities near Taiwan, stating that these maneuvers threaten regional stability and heighten tensions in the Indo-Pacific. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed this stance following a discussion with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN summit held in Manila. Rubio emphasized that the US consistently voices its concerns about China’s conduct around Taiwan and remains dedicated to safeguarding freedom of navigation while opposing any efforts to limit access to international waters.

China initiated what it terms as “special maritime law enforcement operations” near Taiwan the previous month, justifying the move as a reaction to forthcoming maritime boundary talks involving Japan and the Philippines. This development has led to increased reports from Taiwan regarding the presence of Chinese coast guard ships in its vicinity and surrounding waters, with commercial vessels receiving radio warnings from these Chinese forces.

Rubio noted that his dialogue with Wang Yi also included discussions about the upcoming visit of US President Donald Trump to Beijing, scheduled for September. Both countries characterized the talks as constructive and committed to ongoing diplomatic engagement to uphold strategic stability.

The US, under Rubio’s leadership, has made it clear that it will continue to challenge Beijing’s actions, stressing the importance of maintaining open and unrestricted seas. The conversations at the ASEAN summit are part of broader diplomatic efforts to ensure that the Indo-Pacific region remains stable and that international laws governing maritime conduct are upheld.