The United States undersecretary of defense omitted China from a major speech in Manila while announcing joint patrols, as Senator Bill Cassidy proposed legislation to permanently enforce trade and customs measures against Beijing across administrations.
During a regional tour, the United States undersecretary of defense Elbridge Colby delivered a speech in Manila that notably omitted any mention of China or the South China Sea. Colby emphasized a requirement for greater effort from allies, setting a transactional tone for Indo-Pacific partnerships. The visit concluded with an agreement for joint coast guard patrols in contested waters, despite the speech's rhetorical restraint.[1]
In Washington, Senator Bill Cassidy is advancing a legislative framework designed to insulate trade policy towards China from executive branch shifts. The proposal aims to permanently strengthen enforcement mechanisms and modernize customs authorities. Cassidy argues that relying on shifting administration priorities leaves the United States vulnerable, pointing to the need for a durable statute.[2]
The legislative push highlights existing disparities in trade enforcement, noting that United States exporters face high tariffs while millions of packages from China previously entered duty-free. The closing of the de minimis exemption in July 2025 addressed part of this imbalance, curbing the largely unscreened flow of goods. Cassidy's framework would embed these customs updates into permanent law.[2]
