US House panel presses Rubio on funding for Philippines

24/9/2025 17:53

The U.S. House committee on China has urged Washington to ensure funding for the Philippines to counter Beijing's "aggressive and destabilising actions" in the South China Sea.



In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sought clarity on funding for the Philippine Coast Guard, noting the State Department had sought a dramatically reduced 2026 budget for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement that would "devastate" programmes to help its ally stand up to China.



The select committee's letter follows moves by China to further tighten its grip on the strategically located Scarborough Shoal, one of Asia's most contested maritime features, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have clashed repeatedly.



The United States has stressed its alliance with the Philippines is "ironclad".



The Philippines was among countries whose security funding was exempted in February from U.S. aid freezes.



It was not immediately clear how much of the $336 million Washington allocated for Philippine defence modernisation is for maritime security.