US Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby avoided naming Beijing or addressing escalating tensions in the South China Sea during a speech in Manila on Monday, adopting a measured tone weeks before an expected meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Despite speaking in the capital of Washington’s oldest treaty ally in Asia, Colby made no direct reference to recent confrontations between Chinese and Philippine forces near the disputed Scarborough ShoalInstead, 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. 03:31 China and the Philippines trade accusations after clash in South China Sea