Comments come after U.S. State Department responds to South China Sea incident with the Philippines.
Chinese leader, Xi Jinping, said on Monday that China will not bully its smaller neighbors nor seek to dominate Southeast Asia. This statement comes after the Chinese coast guard blocked Philippine boats from resupplying troops in the South China Sea last week, forcing them to withdraw by spraying them with a water cannon.
State Department Spokesman Ned Price said on Friday, “The United States stands with our Philippine allies in upholding the rules-based international maritime order and reaffirms that an armed attack on Philippine public vessels in the South China Sea would invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments.”
On Monday, President Xi stated, “China resolutely opposes hegemonism and power politics, wishes to maintain friendly relations with its neighbors and jointly nurture lasting peace in the region and absolutely will not seek hegemony or even less, bully the small.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the president to seek God’s direction as his administration interacts and negotiates with China.
- For Secretary Blinken and U.S. diplomats as they meet with representatives of Asian nations.
- For U.S. officials as relationships and alliances are managed in the Indo-Pacific.
Sources: Newsmax, Reuters
