Asia-Pacific

Rubio Voices Concern Over China's Increasing Regional Military Activity

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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has raised concerns about rising Chinese military activity in regional waters, calling a recent missile launch a "destabilizing event." His comments come after a two-day live-fire exercise in the Taiwan Strait and a clash between Chinese and Philippine vessels near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Rubio also said Chinese President Xi Jinping's planned September visit to Washington will not affect US arms sales to Taiwan.

Concerns over Rising Chinese Military Activity

 

REPORTER:  

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has raised concerns about rising Chinese military activity in regional waters.

 

Marco Rubio (US SECRETARY OF STATE):  

They know where we feel about those issues. Obviously, we publicly expressed ourselves on the missile launch. It’s a destabilizing event. And what’s happened with the Philippines, obviously we saw that, too. The whole world saw it, and it’s disturbing. And these challenges and these claims of sovereignty over territory are a growing challenge.

 

REPORTER:  

Rubio was asked about recent Chinese military activity, including a two-day live-fire exercise in the Taiwan Strait, and a clash with the Philippine coast guard near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. He also said Chinese President Xi Jingping’s September visit to Washington will not affect US arms sales to Taiwan.