US House Committee Urges Rubio to Secure Philippines Funding Amid China South China Sea Threat

The U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure continued funding for the Philippines to counter China's aggressive actions in the South China Sea, emphasizing the threat to U.S. security interests. The committee highlighted concerns over a proposed dramatic reduction in the 2026 budget for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement, which would severely impact programs supporting the Philippine Coast Guard against Chinese maritime coercion. China has escalated efforts to assert control over the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, particularly around the contested Scarborough Shoal, where clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels have occurred. Despite the U.S. stressing its "ironclad" alliance with the Philippines and exempting the country from aid freezes, it remains unclear how much of the $336 million allocated for Philippine defense modernization is specifically for maritime security. The letter underscores the urgency of the threat posed by China's maritime militia and coast guard activities. Both the U.S. State Department and the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs have not publicly commented on the letter.