This week, on my first trip to the Indo-Pacific region as Acting Secretary of Defense, I look forward to reiterating the United States’ commitment to a Free and Open Indo Pacific. Over the last four years, a growing number of allies and partners have joined the United States in defending the principles put forward in President Trump’s National Security Strategy – namely respect for sovereignty, fair and reciprocal trade, and the rule of law – and forcefully denouncing the coercive and destabilizing activities of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the region, particularly in the South China Sea. In fact, this June, the leaders of Southeast Asia came together for an annual summit, where they issued a clear rebuke of the PRC’s actions in the South China Sea.

Miller, C. (2020, December 7). Rules (not might) make right in SCS. The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 5.