The United States has condemned what it described as China’s “dangerous and aggressive” conduct in the South China Sea following a confrontation between the Chinese Coast Guard and Philippine naval personnel.

The statement came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Manila on Tuesday to attend meetings with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said China’s repeated provocations against lawful Philippine maritime operations threatened regional peace and contradicted Beijing’s commitments to resolve disputes peacefully.

Clash near Philippine outpost

The Philippine military accused Chinese Coast Guard personnel of striking a Filipino sailor on the head with a wooden baton near Second Thomas Shoal, known in the Philippines as Ayungin Shoal.

The confrontation occurred near the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded Philippine naval vessel that has long served as Manila’s military outpost in the disputed waters.

Philippine officials said a Chinese boat approached the outpost and began taking photographs before two Philippine rubber boats moved to drive it away. Chinese personnel allegedly responded by attacking a sailor and damaging one of the boats.

China rejected Manila’s account, accusing the Philippine vessels of ignoring warnings, ramming a Chinese patrol boat and initiating the confrontation. Beijing described the Philippine version of events as a distortion of the facts.

Rubio signals support for regional allies

Rubio’s visit is his first to the Philippines since becoming secretary of state. He is expected to reaffirm Washington’s defence partnership with Manila and its commitment to freedom of navigation in Southeast Asia.

In an opinion article published by Philippine media, Rubio warned that allowing a single power to dominate the region’s waterways and use trade as a geopolitical weapon would endanger the sovereignty, security and economic future of both the United States and ASEAN countries.

China claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, a vital global trade route also contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

A 2016 international arbitration ruling found no legal basis for Beijing’s expansive maritime claims. China has refused to recognise the decision.

Rubio has not confirmed whether he will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also expected in Manila on Wednesday and Thursday, but said he remains open to talks.

The two diplomats met during last year’s ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur and again in Munich in February.

Rubio is also expected to participate in talks with members of the Quad grouping—the United States, Australia, Japan and India—and hold separate meetings with South Korea and possibly Vietnam.

The South China Sea dispute is expected to feature prominently during the ASEAN gathering as regional governments seek to prevent further confrontations from escalating into a wider conflict.