US-Philippines Discuss Efforts to Advance Peace in the South China Sea

JAKARTA - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Philippine Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro in Washington, Friday (5/6), to discuss efforts to advance peace in the South China Sea.

In addition to the South China Sea, the two foreign ministers also discussed various bilateral economic and security priorities, as well as the Philippines' year of leadership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to a US State Department statement.

This year, the Philippines is the chair of the association, which has 11 member countries.

"The Secretary of State (Rubio) reiterated the US commitment to developing the Luzon Economic Corridor and exploring efforts to address energy challenges in the region," the US State Department said, quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu.

The Luzon Economic Corridor is a trilateral infrastructure initiative launched by the US, Japan and the Philippines in April 2024, with the aim of accelerating investment in critical sectors on the Philippine island of Luzon.

During the meeting, Rubio "emphasized the strength of the United States-Philippines alliance and the continuation of the two countries' close cooperation in commemorating 80 years of diplomatic relations and 75 years as allies in 2026".

The Philippines is one of the oldest US military allies in the Asia-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, Lazaro called his meeting with Rubio "productive". He wrote on the social media X, the two "engaged in discussions about strategic partnerships in various fields."

"Our dialogue focuses on strengthening economic diplomacy. We also reaffirm our strong maritime cooperation and joint commitment to maintaining regional peace and stability, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic channels to ease tensions," Lazaro wrote.