WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Biden administration on Sunday upheld a Trump-era rejection of nearly all of China's significant maritime claims in the South China Sea. "Nowhere is the rules-based maritime order under greater threat than in the South China Sea," Blinken said, using language similar to Pompeo's. "The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea," he said, referring to Pompeo's original statement. "We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defense commitments." China claims almost all of the South China Sea and routinely objects to any action by the US military in the region.

Source: Manila Times July 12, 2021 01:52 UTC