Why did US defence official Colby avoid mention of Scarborough Shoal in Manila speech?

Some analysts attribute the restraint to a desire to avoid antagonising Beijing ahead of next month’s expected Xi-Trump summit Instead, he sought to reassure regional allies that the United States was “definitely not disengaging from Asia”. “We are not leaving; in fact, we are digging in, to ensure a favourable balance of power where it matters most,” Colby said during an event at a Manila think tank. His omissions were particularly notable because two days earlier Washington had criticised Beijing for its actions over what it called a “destabilising” nature reserve at the reef and denying Filipino fishermen access to their traditional fishing grounds.

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