Blinken hits out at China, seeks allies in Asia

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged China to cease "aggressive actions" in the Indo-Pacific. In a speech in Indonesia, Blinken on Tuesday said Washington would work with allies and partners to “defend the rules-based order” and countries should have the right to “choose their own path”. "That's why there is so much concern -- from Northeast Asia to Southeast Asia and from the Mekong River to the Pacific Islands -- about Beijing's aggressive actions. Claiming open seas as their own. Distorting open markets through subsidies to its state-run companies. Denying the exports or revoking deals for countries whose policies it does not agree with,” he said. “Countries across the region want this behaviour to change – we do too,” he added.

He added that Washington was “determined to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea”, and said Beijing's actions there threaten the movement of more than $3 trillion worth of commerce every year. China claims almost all of the resource-rich sea, with competing claims from four Southeast Asian states as well as Taiwan. During the speech, Blinken underscored the importance of the Quad, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and other partnerships like the Aukus agreement with the U.K. and Australia. He also condemned Myanmar’s military regime and said the U.S. wouldn’t give up on the goal of a “peaceful solution” that represents the will of the people.