Secretary of State of the United States of America Marco Rubio, Foreign Minister of Japan Iwaya Takeshi, and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea Cho Hyun have jointly expressed their opposition against unlawful maritime claims in the South China Sea, as well as attempts to enforce such claims.
The Secretary and Foreign Ministers recently met in New York City to continue their joint efforts to advance the safety, security, and prosperity of the three countries and the broader Indo-Pacific region, while upholding shared principles including the rule of law.
In a joint statement released after the trilateral meeting, the officials opposed any attempts to change the status quo including dangerous and destabilizing actions in the waters of the Indo-Pacific, including the South China Sea.
They also emphasized their commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific and upholding international law as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, including freedoms of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea.
