U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio continues his weeklong tour of the Asia-Pacific region, with a final stop in South Korea.
The Senator from Miami is the highest-ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee and a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence.
This morning, Rubio gave a 45-minute speech at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, focusing on issues of freedom, liberty and regional security in the Korean Peninsula.
Referring to the growing economic and military progress in China, Rubio said the U.S. is at a “paradox” with the Communist nation, where half of the world’s population is not considered “free,” while much of the Asia-Pacific area also lives in democratically developed countries such as South Korea and Taiwan.
Rubio’ remarks included the hope that China’s extension does not lead to “conflict and stability, as has often been the case in the past.”
“We need China to become a responsible stakeholder in the international system,” he added.
During his tour, Rubio’s first official visit to the Korean Peninsula since elected to Congress, the Senator also made stops in Japan and the Philippines, where he witnessed ongoing recovery efforts in the city of Tacloban after Typhoon Haiyan. He also faced North Korean troops briefly during an outing to the Korean de-militarized zone.
Rubio’s journey concludes tomorrow with several meetings with local officials, including South Korean President Park Geun-hye.
Regular updates on activities throughout the trip are on Rubio’s personal Twitter account @MarcoRubio, as well as posted photos and information on his website.
Photo with Minister of Foreign Affairs Yun Byung-se is courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. Other photos courtesy of Sen. Marco Rubio:
