The United States rejects China’s ongoing attempts to enforce its destabilizing “national nature reserve” at Scarborough Reef.  We stand with our Ally, the Philippines, in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

I don’t usually respond to media hits but every now and then a piece comes out that’s so utterly divorced from reality that it makes you think that the author just fed a headline into an AI program and then published the resulting AI hallucination. Starting with the very first sentence—which says that I traveled to the Solomon Islands last week—this is a breathtaking example of academic/journalistic malpractice. I've never been to the Solomon Islands (last week or otherwise) but during my first year as Deputy Secretary of State in the second Trump Administration made two trips to the Pacific Island nations: the first to Papua New Guinea, Palau, and the Marshall Islands in September 2025 and the second to Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa in February-March 2026. On both trips, I signed a number of landmark economic and security partnership agreements, and indeed the second trip was in conjunction with an Economic Forum that we organized in Honolulu to bring together Pacific leaders with the American private sector. And I'm heading back to the region later this month to attend the Pacific Island Forum leaders' conference (which I was scheduled to attend last year until they disinvited all non-member nations) in Palau, and then plan to visit the Solomon Islands and likely other Pacific nations. All of this is detailed on my official X account as well as other official @StateDept announcements, but the piece addresses none of this in its zeal to declare a "palpable" "absence of vision and dearth of deliverables" in a "sorely neglected" region. I'm perfectly happy—indeed, eager—to engage in a policy debate, but here there's nothing to debate because under the leadership of @POTUS @realDonaldTrump and @SecRubio we're engaging with the region more closely and productively than ever before. Aloha and stay tuned.

The United States welcomes the @ICRC visit to Aung San Suu Kyi. We hope this visit marks the beginning of regular humanitarian access to Aung San Suu Kyi and serves as a pathway to greater access to all political prisoners. We continue to call for her immediate and unconditional release and urge authorities to guarantee her access to medical care and visits. We call for the release of all those unjustly detained and the military to engage in dialogue with all groups to end the conflict in Burma.

Goods made with forced labor abroad undercut American workers, businesses, and those who play by the rules. We are taking action to block these goods from entering the U.S. by adding 43 companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity List.

I led the inaugural U.S.-Brunei Strategic Dialogue with FM II Erywan yesterday, a testament to the strength of our 175-year friendship and America's commitment to advancing our mutual interests in Brunei and in Southeast Asia more broadly.  We reaffirmed our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and discussed ways to expand economic, security, and law enforcement cooperation.

Expressing our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by the earthquake in Kumamoto. We thank the first responders risking so much to save lives, and we remain ready to assist our close ally as well as U.S. citizens abroad. – MGD

At the Museum of the Bible, DAS Matt Murray and Embassy Honiara CDA Dan O’Hara joined Solomon Islands PM Matthew Wale to view the PM’s own translation of the New Testament into the Wala language–a demonstration of our shared values and lasting U.S.-Pacific ties.

A business roundtable at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce brought together Solomon Islands PM Matthew Wale, DAS Matt Murray, Embassy Honiara CDA Dan O'Hara, and the American private sector, highlighting new opportunities for shared prosperity between our nations.

DAS Matt Murray and Embassy Honiara CDA Dan O'Hara joined Solomon Islands PM Matthew Wale at the WWII Memorial, honoring the sacrifice of Americans and Solomon Islanders during the pivotal Guadalcanal Campaign in the Pacific.

Met with my Pacific counterparts at the East Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. As a Pacific power, a free and open Indo-Pacific is directly in the interest of the American people and every nation represented here today.

Met with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Prak to discuss how our cooperation can advance safety and security, including through combatting scam centers and implementing the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords.

Great meeting with Thai Deputy PM & FM Sihasak today. Advancing our 190+ year partnership with stronger defense ties, progress on reciprocal trade, and continued commitment to the peace accords brokered by President Trump.

Met with Foreign Minister @VivianBala today to reaffirm our strong strategic partnership with Singapore. We discussed our expanding cooperation bilaterally and within ASEAN in areas including emerging technologies and trade.

Grateful to our @USEmbassyPH team for their dedicated service on behalf of our nation that has resulted in a strong U.S.-Philippines Alliance. It not only puts America first, but also ensures our nations remain steadfast friends, partners, and allies.

For more than 30 years, the @ASEAN Regional Forum has supported dialogue on security issues impacting the region. No nation has the right to restrict the free flow of commerce and travel through international waterways, including in the Taiwan Strait.

Great meeting today with Vietnam's Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung. We reaffirmed our commitment to deepening the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discussed strengthening our bilateral relationship, rebalancing trade, and expanding defense and security cooperation.

Great meeting with Philippine President Marcos to reaffirm our shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. From the South China Sea to Pax Silica and the Luzon Economic Corridor, the U.S.-Philippine Alliance makes both our countries stronger, safer, and more prosperous.

Met with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu in Manila. Our collaboration with @ASEAN strengthens global security while our strong partnership advances safety, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

Was pleased to reconvene the Quad at the @ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting to emphasize our message: strong cooperation is vital to supporting ASEAN’s own priority and centrality in the region. The United States, India, Australia, and Japan share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is grounded in the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The Quad remains a priority, and we will meet again later this year.

Competitive U.S. firms in Japan strengthen both of our economies.  Great meeting with @AmChamJapan leadership to discuss expanding market access in Japan and ensuring balanced, reciprocal trade that benefits American workers and businesses. -MGD