Rubio, Wang Urge Dialogue Amid U.S.-China Tensions/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized cooperation and dialogue during talks in Malaysia, amid deep tensions over trade, security, and China’s support for Russia. Despite stark differences, both leaders signaled willingness to manage disputes constructively. Trade issues took a back seat, as regional security dominated discussions.
US-China Talks Quick Looks
- Rubio and Wang meet at ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.
- Both leaders stress dialogue despite growing bilateral tensions.
- China calls tariffs disruptive; Rubio downplays trade focus.
- Potential Trump-Xi summit hinted at by Rubio.
- Security and regional stability dominate the discussions.
- China criticized for backing Russia’s war efforts.
- EU and Australia warn of consequences of trade wars.
- ASEAN leaders wary of geopolitical rivalry impacts.
Rubio, Wang Urge Dialogue Amid U.S.-China Tensions
Deep Look
Against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions and regional unease, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Friday in Malaysia, signaling a cautious willingness by the world’s two largest economies to keep diplomatic lines open while navigating profound disagreements on issues ranging from trade to security.
Rubio and Wang convened on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers’ meetings in Kuala Lumpur—a gathering that has become an annual stage for delicate diplomacy between Beijing and Washington. The face-to-face marked their first in-person engagement since Rubio assumed his role as Secretary of State.
While neither side offered breakthroughs, both leaders described the talks as constructive.
Rubio told reporters afterward, “Look, we’re two big, powerful countries, and there are always going to be issues that we disagree on. I think there’s some areas of potential cooperation. It was a very constructive, positive meeting, and there’s a lot of work to do.”
He stressed the importance of improving communications and rebuilding trust, while hinting at significant upcoming diplomacy.
“The odds are high,” Rubio said when asked about the likelihood of President Donald Trump visiting China to meet President Xi Jinping. “I think both sides want to see it happen.”
In its own carefully worded statement, China’s Foreign Ministry echoed Rubio’s tone, calling the meeting “positive, pragmatic and constructive,” though it avoided specifics on thornier topics like tariffs or Beijing’s stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The statement emphasized mutual agreement “to increase communication and dialogue” and “explore expanding areas of cooperation while managing differences.”
Wang Yi underscored the need for a new model of engagement, stating that the two nations should work toward “jointly finding a correct way for China and the U.S. to get along in the new era.”
Trade Takes a Back Seat
Although global markets have been roiled in recent months by President Trump’s aggressive tariff threats—including proposed duties of up to 35% on Canadian imports—Rubio downplayed the role of trade in his discussions with Wang. “I’m not the trade negotiator,” Rubio said, noting that while trade is always present in the backdrop of U.S.-China relations, his meetings in Malaysia primarily focused on broader regional stability and security concerns.
However, China’s criticism of Trump’s trade tactics was loud and clear during the summit’s sidelines. Wang Yi, meeting separately with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, condemned Washington’s tariff strategy, accusing the U.S. of “wrecking the free trade system and disrupting the stability of the global supply chain.” In discussions with Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, Wang described U.S. tariff actions as “an attempt to deprive all parties of their legitimate right to development.”
Security Issues Loom Large
Security dominated much of the ASEAN summit discourse, with Rubio openly warning about China’s increasingly assertive posture in the Indo-Pacific, particularly over the South China Sea and Taiwan. Echoing positions consistent across several U.S. administrations, Rubio said: “The Chinese clearly have been supportive of the Russian effort. They’ve been willing to help them as much as they can without getting caught.”
The U.S. maintains that China has provided indirect assistance to Moscow’s military-industrial complex, an allegation Beijing has consistently denied.
Meanwhile, European and Asian partners voiced parallel concerns. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas cautioned that escalating trade wars could ultimately strengthen China rather than weaken it.
“There are no winners in trade wars,” she told reporters. “If you start a trade war with everyone, you make your partners weaker and China stronger.” While she said the EU was not actively seeking retaliation, Kallas warned the bloc has “tools available” if necessary.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong echoed those sentiments, advocating for balance in the Indo-Pacific.
“We want to see a region where there is a balance of power… where there is no coercion or duress,” Wong said. “No one country should dominate, and no country should be dominated.”
A Careful Diplomatic Dance
Throughout the two-day summit, Rubio and Wang continued a diplomatic balancing act, with both governments presenting themselves as indispensable partners to Southeast Asian nations. Rubio touted progress in U.S. relations with Malaysia, including a new civil-nuclear cooperation agreement, while Wang portrayed China as a steady and reliable regional partner.
Wang also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during the summit. In a joint statement, the two nations warned against foreign powers “creating divisions and instigating confrontation in the region,” a thinly veiled jab at U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Despite the carefully choreographed diplomacy, regional leaders remain wary. Southeast Asian nations, acutely aware of the economic and security stakes, are determined to avoid being forced into choosing sides.
As Rubio observed, “It’s an issue,” referring to U.S.-China tensions, “but I wouldn’t say it solely defines our relationship with many of these countries. There are a lot of other issues we work together on.”
As the world watches the delicate maneuvering between Washington and Beijing, one reality is clear: The U.S. and China remain locked in a complex rivalry, tempered—at least for now—by a mutual recognition that dialogue remains essential.
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