WASHINGTON, 07 August 2021, (TON): Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with the foreign ministers of the 26 ARF participating countries, the ASEAN Secretary General, and the EU High Commissioner at the 28th Annual ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Ministerial Meeting hosted by ASEAN Chair Brunei Darussalam.

Blinken underscored the importance of democracy, transparency, and accountability in the Indo-Pacific.

Blinken called on the PRC to abide by its obligations under the international law of the sea and cease its provocative behavior in the South China Sea. He raised serious concerns about ongoing human rights abuses in Tibet, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang.

The Secretary also noted deep concern with the rapid growth of the PRC’s nuclear arsenal which highlights how Beijing has sharply deviated from its decades-old nuclear strategy based on minimum deterrence. Blinken then joined other countries in calling for the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The Secretary urged all ARF member states to pr-ess the military regime in Burma to end violence and support the people of Bur-ma as they work to return to democratic governance.

Blinken calls Japanese FM, Secretary of State Blinken spoke on Friday with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu. Blinken and Motegi reaffirmed the U.S.-Japan Alli-ance as the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and across the globe.