Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US remained committed to the Philippines' defense as tensions simmer with Beijing in the South China Sea.

Researchers studying crustaceans in Vietnam have identified a new "supergiant" sea bug species that bears a surprising resemblance to a classic movie villain.

The US secretary of state opens his term by reaffirming Washington’s commitment to the Philippines and other regional allies.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the United States' defense commitment to the Philippines in a conversation with Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo, discussing China's destabilizing actions in the South China Sea and the strengthening of economic and security cooperation within the region.

China's claims in the South China Sea overlap with those of the Philippines, which is a U.S. security treaty ally.

He says Malaysia may have border issues with neighbours, but still manages to cultivate good relations. Read more at straitstimes.com.

"Secretary Rubio conveyed that (China's) behavior undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law," the U.S. State Department said in a statement on his call with Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo.

China’s navy has commissioned a new-generation frigate as competition rises with the US and other regional powers, saying the ship will “play a vital role in enhancing the overall combat effectiveness” of its forces.

Responding to a question on the Quad foreign ministers' meeting in Washington on Tuesday during which they reaffirmed their commitment for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said,

Chinese Coast Guard ships fire water cannons at Unaizah May 4, a Philippine Navy chartered vessel, conducting a routine resupply mission to troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, on March 5, 2024, in the South China Sea. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

Fortunately, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong thought a full split was unlikely: "I can’t see how a full decoupling can happen at this stage."

Southeast Asian foreign ministers are gathering for their first meeting this year under the regional bloc’s new chair, Malaysia, seeking a breakthrough over Myanmar’s drawn-out civil war and territorial disputes in the South China Sea.