Blinken warning ASEAN of China's 'dangerous' actions in Sea disputes

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has issued a stark warning to Southeast Asian leaders ASEAN on Friday, highlighting China’s “increasingly dangerous and unlawful actions” in disputed regional waters.

Speaking at the ASEAN-U.S. summit in Laos, Blinken emphasized Washington’s commitment to safeguarding freedom of navigation and overflight in the contested South China Sea, where tensions between China and its neighbors have escalated.

“We remain concerned about China’s increasingly dangerous and unlawful actions in the South and East China Seas, which have injured people and harmed vessels from ASEAN nations, and contradict commitments to peaceful resolution of disputes,” Blinken told the leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

His remarks come as confrontations between Chinese maritime forces and vessels from countries like the Philippines and Vietnam have intensified. These incidents have raised concerns over a potential armed clash, and ASEAN has been negotiating a “code of conduct” with China to prevent such conflict. However, progress has been sluggish.

China’s territorial claims encompass nearly the entire South China Sea, overlapping with the claims of ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, as well as Taiwan. China also faces disputes with Japan in the East China Sea.

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Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, also present at the summit, avoided mentioning territorial disputes but warned of external forces stoking regional instability. “Especially the frequent interference and disturbance of foreign forces,” he said, a veiled reference to U.S. involvement in the region.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned China’s “harassment and intimidation” in the South China Sea, calling for more than dialogue. “It calls for a genuine commitment from all parties to manage tensions, uphold international laws, and find common ground,” he stated.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh echoed calls for the rapid completion of the ASEAN code of conduct, urging a peaceful resolution under international law. China, however, continues to reject a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated its expansive claims in the South China Sea.