US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila and condemned Beijing for its "dangerous and destabilising" actions in the Sea, in his first phone call with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.

Foreign Affairs Minister Sugiono and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio exchanged views on maritime security in the South China Sea.

New U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed China's "dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea" with his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday and underscored the "ironclad" U.S.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio sparked a sharp rebuke from Beijing over his comments on the South China Sea in one of his first foreign policy statements since taking office.

Wang Yi elaborated on China's principled position on the Taiwan question and urged the U.S. side to handle it prudently. Wang emphasised that Taiwan has been part of China's territory since ancient times, and we will never allow Taiwan to be split from China."

Mr Rubio discussed the “dangerous and destabilising actions in the South China Sea” by China. Read more at straitstimes.com.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a phone call with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday, affirming Washington does not back Taiwan independence, according to China's foreign ministry, a detail omitted from the American side's read-out.

Wang told Rubio that both China and US should implement the “important consensus” reached between the Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Trump, according to a Chinese government statement.

China’s foreign minister conveyed the message in a phone call, their first conversation since Marco Rubio’s confirmation as Trump’s top diplomat.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had his first phone call with Chinese counterpart Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who said a phrase that translates to “behave yourself.” Rubio also raised concerns with his Chinese counterpart about Beijing’s actions towards Taiwan and the South China Sea.

“I hope you will act accordingly,” Wang told Rubio, according to a Foreign Ministry statement, employing a Chinese phrase typically used by a teacher or a boss warning a student or employee to behave and be responsible for their actions.