1 of 3 | Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, meets Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second from right, during a courtesy visit inside Malakanang Presidential Palace in Manila. Rubio was in Manila to attend meetings of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations. Photo courtesy U.S. State Department | License Photo
July 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in Manila on Wednesday for a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations, met with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his counterpart in China, Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Meanwhile, police clashed with protesters outside who criticized the United States' involvement in area conflicts and blamed the Trump administration for fueling tension in the region. Some protestors held up signs that said, "U.S. out of everywhere!" and "War criminals not welcome! Ban Rubio! Ban Trump!"
Rubio spokesman Tommy Pigott said the secretary of state met with Marco "to reaffirm our ironclad alliance and our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific."
The two men confirmed that "there is no legal basis for China's expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea" and discussed other matters, Pigott said.
