U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to hold a crucial meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday, as tensions continue to escalate between Washington and Beijing over trade, regional security, and China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The high-level meeting, confirmed by the U.S. State Department, comes as Rubio concludes his two-day visit to Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) security summit — his first official trip to Asia as secretary of state. It will mark his first face-to-face meeting with Wang.
Rubio's meeting with Wang follows a separate discussion in Kuala Lumpur with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during which both sides explored options to revive peace talks on the Ukraine conflict.
This diplomatic activity unfolds against growing global concern over U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump, particularly the threat of sweeping tariffs that could impact both adversaries and allies, including many ASEAN members.
While Southeast Asian leaders voiced frustration over the tariffs, Rubio said regional counterparts were more focused on security concerns and their fears of increasing Chinese assertiveness. “Of course, [tariffs] were raised. It’s an issue,” he told reporters Thursday. “But I wouldn’t say it solely defines our relationship. There’s strong enthusiasm for U.S. engagement.”
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Rubio echoed Trump’s stance that China poses a major challenge to the U.S., particularly in trade and technology. He also reiterated Washington’s concerns over China’s indirect support for Russia’s war efforts. “The Chinese clearly have been supportive of the Russian effort — as much as they can without getting caught,” he said, hinting the issue would be raised with Wang.
Rubio and Wang have used the ASEAN summit to highlight their competing visions for the Indo-Pacific. While the U.S. signed a civil-nuclear agreement with Malaysia, Wang condemned Trump’s proposed tariffs as harmful to global trade and stability.
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On Thursday, Wang and Lavrov jointly criticized U.S. actions, warning against foreign interference in Southeast Asia and affirming support for ASEAN’s central role in regional affairs.