VIENTIANE — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned Beijing's "increasingly dangerous" actions in the South China Sea as he met leaders of the Asean in Laos on Friday.
China has deployed military and coast guard vessels in recent months in a bid to eject the Philippines from a trio of strategically important reefs and islands in the South China Sea.
It has also been ratcheting up pressure over a disputed island group controlled by Japan in the East China Sea, rattling Tokyo and its allies.
"We remain concerned about China's increasingly dangerous and unlawful actions on the South and East China Seas, which have injured people, harmed vessels from Asean nations, and contradict commitments to peaceful resolution of disputes," Blinken told Southeast Asian leaders gathered in Vientiane.
"The United States will continue to support freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight in the Indo-Pacific," he said.
The top diplomat said the United States also hoped to work with Asean leaders to "protect stability across the Taiwan Strait," a source of constant tension with China.
Beijing this week denounced remarks by Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te, who vowed to "resist annexation" by China, which claims the self-governing democracy.
The summit marked the diplomatic debut of Japan's security-minded new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who in the past has called for a NATO-style Asian pact with an unstated goal of deterring China.
Japan's foreign ministry said Friday that Ishiba reiterated "serious concerns" about the "intensification of Chinese military activities in areas surrounding Japan" in a meeting with Premier Li Qiang.
Li made a veiled swipe at Ishiba during an Asean-related meeting on Thursday, warning of the danger of "attempts to introduce bloc confrontation and geopolitical conflicts into Asia."
President Ferdinand Marcos also challenged Li on Thursday over recent clashes in the South China Sea.
The summit marked a rare occasion when the top diplomats of the United States and Russia found themselves in the same room.
Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov did not appear to make any contact at the start of the talks, with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol sitting between them.
"Advancing our shared vision also means coming together to address shared challenges to that vision, from the deepening crisis in Myanmar to the DPRK destabilizing behavior to Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine, which continues to violate principles at the heart of the United Nations Charter and at the heart of Asean Treaty of Amity and cooperation," Blinken said.
"But whether it's responding to urgent global challenges or advancing the shared hopes of our people, the relationship between the United States and Asean will continue to be essential," he added.
China, meanwhile, pledged to collaborate with Asean to resolve maritime disputes in the South China Sea.
Mao Ning, spokesman for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), said China remains committed to resolving maritime differences with concerned Asean nations through dialogue and consultation.
Mao emphasized that historical facts and international law have to be respected.
"China will continue to work with Asean countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, actively advance the consultations of the code of conduct in the South China Sea, and jointly make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation," she said.
Marcos on Friday said he feels more than just frustration with China's actions in the South China Sea that he claimed pose "potential danger" in the region.
"That would be a bit of an understatement. It's much more than frustration because there's potential danger there, so that's something we want to avoid," Marcos told reporters on the sidelines of the Asean summit.
The President issued the statement after China claimed that the situation in the South China Sea was "generally stable."
"China remains committed to settling maritime differences with countries concerned through dialogue and consultation on the basis of respecting historical facts and international law," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said in a press conference on October 10.
China will continue to work with Asean to "actively advance the consultations of the code of conduct in the South China Sea, and jointly make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation," Mao said.
But the President insisted on maintaining a Philippine presence in the West Philippine Sea, despite China's incursions and assertive claims.
"Whatever happens, we will maintain our presence. It is important to show the world and our people, we are in the business in protecting our sovereignty, we are in the business in protecting our territorial imperatives, we are exercising our sovereign rights," he said.
Marcos also defended the Asean against criticisms that it was just a big talk shop.
"I don't agree that this is just a talk shop. But even if it were, I'd rather be talking than watching conflict. So, if the talking is keeping conflict away, then Asean will have achieved at least one of its most important purposes," Marcos said.
Marcos said "more than half" of Asean have offered help to the Philippines amid China's continued harassment in the South China Sea.
Before traveling to Laos, the President said the Philippines faces increasing tensions because of dangerous incidents in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
On Wednesday, the China Coast Guard (CCG) urged the Philippines to stop "intruding" into Huangyan Island, the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal, which the Philippines calls Bajo de Masinloc.
In a statement shared by the Chinese Embassy in Manila, Liu Dejun, a spokesman for CCG, said, "On October 8, Philippine ships 3001 and 3002 insisted on intruding into the waters near China's Huangyan Island without the Chinese government's permission."
"The Chinese coast guard ships tracked and monitored the entire process and took control measures under the law," Liu said.
Earlier in the day, CCG vessels had again disrupted the resupply mission to Filipino fishermen in Scarborough Shoal.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said its ships, Datu Cabaylo and Datu Sanday, were on a routine resupply mission to Bajo de Masinloc when three CCG ships and one Chinese Navy vessel began to shadow them.
"Despite the dangerous maneuvers and use of water cannons, both BFAR vessels managed to deliver supplies to the Filipino fisherfolk near Bajo de Masinloc," the BFAR reported.
In Vientiane, Marcos also urged Australia to maintain its support for the Philippines' position to uphold the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region.
In his remarks during the Asean-Australia Summit here on Thursday, Marcos thanked Australia "for its consistent support for the rule of law, for the 1982 Unclos, and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award not only through timely statements of support but also through capacity-building and academic initiatives to mainstream appreciation of international law."
Marcos also urged Australia to use its advanced technologies to address marine pollution, particularly in the reduction of plastic waste and the promotion of sustainable fisheries management.