Blinken Urges ASEAN to Address Regional Conflicts Amid China Concerns

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Southeast Asian nations to address challenges like Beijing's actions in the South China Sea and the civil war in Myanmar. He praised the Philippines and China for their diplomatic efforts and emphasized the need for cooperation on global conflicts.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, shortly before meeting his Chinese counterpart on Saturday, urged Southeast Asian countries to help address challenges including Beijing's 'escalating and unlawful actions' in the South China Sea.

Blinken also labeled Myanmar's civil war as 'heartbreaking' and stressed the need for ASEAN's foreign ministers to tackle global issues such as the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine and North Korea's missile programs.

He acknowledged China's and the Philippines' diplomatic progress after Manila completed a resupply mission to troops in a contested area, causing regional concern over potential escalation.

Blinken praised the resupply's success as the result of a mutual agreement, expressing hope for continued cooperation. He will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi following the ASEAN Regional Forum in Laos to discuss security concerns.

(With inputs from agencies.)