Rubio warns China on Scarborough Shoal, reaffirms US backing for Philippines
Synopsis
Marco Rubio's Senate testimony marks one of the sharpest US warnings yet on Scarborough Shoal, paired with a fresh AI-focused defence pact with the Philippines. The message: Washington will not accept a South China Sea code of conduct that legitimises Beijing's claims, and Manila is now central to Trump-era Indo-Pacific deterrence.
Key Takeaways
Marco Rubio warned China over recent activity near Scarborough Shoal while testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee .
Rubio called the Philippines a ‘critical partner' and confirmed a Sunday call with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
A new agreement at a former US military facility in the Philippines will support joint work on AI and advanced technologies.
Rubio said a ‘bad' South China Sea code of conduct would be worse than none, citing risks to freedom of navigation.
He framed US-China competition as a long-term challenge requiring open communication despite deep disagreements.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday issued a pointed warning to China over its activities near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, while reaffirming Washington's support for the Philippines as a ‘critical partner' in the Indo-Pacific. Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio said he had repeatedly flagged Beijing's actions in direct diplomatic engagements with Chinese officials.
Key Developments
‘We're very concerned about recent activity, once again, near Scarborough,' Rubio told lawmakers, adding that he had raised the matter in his first meeting with Chinese counterparts and in subsequent talks. He warned Beijing against attempts to alter the regional status quo.
The remarks came during an exchange with Senator Bill Hagerty, who underscored the Philippines' strategic location along vital Indo-Pacific maritime trade routes.
Deepening US-Philippines Ties
Rubio confirmed he had spoken with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday, describing expanded cooperation on defence, military interoperability, technology, and economic diversification. He cited a new arrangement involving a former US military facility in the Philippines that will host joint work on artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.
The secretary also highlighted ongoing joint exercises and defence commitments aimed at reinforcing deterrence across the region.
Concerns Over Code of Conduct
Rubio cautioned that Beijing continues to pressure regional states and expressed unease about efforts to finalise a South China Sea code of conduct that could, in his view, legitimise Chinese territorial claims.
‘A bad code of conduct agreement is worse than no code of conduct agreement at all,' he said, arguing that any pact must safeguard freedom of navigation and not undercut US allies.
Broader US-China Picture
While framing competition with China as a long-term challenge, Rubio said Washington and Beijing must keep communication channels open despite deep divides over security, trade, and technology. He flagged China's assertiveness in the South China Sea as among the most sensitive flashpoints in the bilateral ties.
Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have intensified in recent years, with Scarborough Shoal a recurring trigger of friction between Beijing and Manila. The hearing signalled that the Trump administration intends to anchor its Indo-Pacific strategy firmly around treaty allies like the Philippines, with further joint deployments and technology pacts expected in the months ahead.
Point of View
Not unilateral posturing. By linking Scarborough to a new AI-defence facility in the Philippines, Washington is signalling that deterrence will now be technological as well as naval. The bigger tell is his red line on the code of conduct — a clear pushback against ASEAN-led diplomacy that has, in Washington's view, drifted toward accommodating Beijing's maritime claims.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Marco Rubio say about China and Scarborough Shoal?
Rubio said the US is ‘very concerned' about recent Chinese activity near Scarborough Shoal and had raised the issue with Chinese officials in multiple engagements. He warned Beijing against efforts to alter the regional status quo in the South China Sea.
Why is the Philippines important to US Indo-Pacific strategy?
Rubio described the Philippines as a ‘critical partner' due to its location along key Indo-Pacific maritime trade routes. Cooperation now spans defence, military interoperability, AI and advanced technologies, and economic diversification.
What is the South China Sea code of conduct controversy?
Rubio warned that a poorly drafted code of conduct could legitimise Chinese territorial claims and weaken freedom of navigation. He argued ‘a bad code of conduct agreement is worse than no code of conduct agreement at all'.
What new US-Philippines technology agreement was announced?
Rubio cited an agreement involving a former US military facility in the Philippines that will host joint activities in artificial intelligence and advanced technologies. It complements ongoing joint military exercises and defence commitments.
How does Rubio view long-term US-China relations?
Rubio described competition with China as a long-term challenge likely to persist for years. He stressed the need to keep communication channels open despite disagreements on security, trade, and technology.
