Colby’s Empty Charm Offensive

Elbridge Colby toured the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia telling hosts that US interests in the Indo-Pacific have never been more engaged, while pointedly avoiding any mention of China or the South China Sea in his Manila remarks. The omission stood out given that regional security concerns center almost entirely on China.

The same week, the Trump administration released a report criticizing several Southeast Asian nations over transshipment, and it was announced the US would have zero aircraft carriers in the Pacific for months as the USS George Washington heads to relieve the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf. Trump also ordered reduced military exercises with South Korea, citing Seoul's stance on Iran and his relationship with Kim Jong Un.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., despite new coast guard patrol agreements with Washington, again raised the possibility of joint energy exploration with China and clarified he would not let the US strike from Philippine soil in a Taiwan conflict, a notable walk-back from earlier remarks.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.