Biden Administration Reaches out to Southeast Asian Allies
Recently confirmed Secretary of State Antony Blinken held calls with the foreign ministers of Thailand and the Philippines.
January 28, 2021
Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivers remarks to the media at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on January 27, 2021.
Credit: Flickr/U.S. Department of State
Advertisement
Incoming U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has wasted no time in reaching out American allies in Southeast Asia, holding calls with his Philippine and Thai counterparts the day after his confirmation by the U.S. Senate.
In his talks with the two officials, Blinken said that the United States rejects China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea beyond what it is permitted under international law and stands with Southeast Asian claimants “in the face of PRC pressure.”