By Humeyra Pamuk

JAKARTA, Reuters -US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated Tuesday that the United States will promote a free Indo-Pacific region and strengthen treaty alliances as well as defence and intelligence capabilities.

Blinken stated that everyone has a stake keeping Indonesia’s most dynamic region safe from intimidation and coercion. He also made a subtle reference to China and said that the United States would fight any illegal action.

Blinken’s first Southeast Asia trip since January when President Joe Biden was inaugurated is an effort to strengthen relations between the United States and Southeast Asia.

“We’ll work with our allies and partners to defend the rules-based order that we’ve built together over decades to ensure the region remains open and accessible,” he said in a speech at a university.

“Let’s be very clear, the purpose of defending rules-based order and not keeping any country down is to protect their rights. Rather, it’s to protect the right of all countries to choose their own path, free from coercion and intimidation.”

Blinken will be visiting Malaysia and Thailand as well this week. He stated that the United States will strengthen its intelligence and defense capabilities in the area with its allies, and defend an open and secure Internet.

He stated that China’s aggressive actions in South China Sea could threaten more than $3 trillion annually in trade. Countries across the region are concerned about this threat and want China to stop it.

But he said that the contest was not between U.S. and China-centric regions.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea. This is despite claims from other countries and an international tribunal declaring that China’s enormous claim has no legal basis.

China rejects the U.S. position as interference by an outside power that might threaten Asia’s security.

Blinken indicated that the United States would support a new economic structure in its region, with more investment from abroad and U.S. businesses identifying potential opportunities.

“At President Biden’s direction, we are developing a comprehensive Indo-Pacific economic framework to pursue our shared objectives, including around trade and the digital economy,” he said.

He added that allies and the United States would pressure Myanmar’s military junta for peace, release prisoners, and return to democracy.