Rubio eyes China power play as Wang steps up on ASEAN sidelines
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Meet China’s Wang Yi at ASEAN Summit
On Friday, Marco Rubio will have a face‑to‑face talk with Wang Yi on the sidelines of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur. Washington’s tariff policy will dominate the agenda.
Background of the Meeting
- It is the first meeting since former President Donald Trump returned to office.
- Both sides are locked in disputes on trade, fentanyl, Taiwan and technology.
- Japan, South Korea and Australia are also present.
US Position on Asia‑Pacific
Prior to Rubio’s first trip as Secretary of State, Washington declared that it was “prioritising” its commitment to East and Southeast Asia.
Rubio said Thursday that the United States has “no intention of abandoning” the Asia‑Pacific region.
Tariff War and Potential Resolution
Trump’s threat of punitive tariffs ranging from 20 to 50 percent against more than 20 Asian countries has shadowed the conference.
Rubio has sought to placate Asian trade partners by saying that talks are ongoing and might result in “better” rates than for the rest of the world.
Chinese Call for Fairer International Order
Wang called for a “fairer and more reasonable” international order, citing challenges such as unilateral protectionism and the abuse of tariffs by a major country.
Historical Escalation of Trade Disputes
- During January, Washington and Beijing engaged in a tariff war that temporarily sent duties on each other’s exports sky‑high.
- The United States hit China with additional levies of 145 percent on its goods; China’s countermeasures on U.S. goods reached 125 percent.
- In May, the two sides agreed to temporarily slash their high tariffs—a “total reset” for Trump.
Strategic Concerns: South China Sea and Taiwan
Rubio will likely raise U.S. concerns about China’s expansionary behaviour in the South China Sea and Beijing’s growing military pressure on Taiwan.
China claims the democratic island as territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Washington has no formal diplomatic relations with the island, but is its largest arms supplier and an increasing supporter of Taipei.
On 28 May, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused China of “credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power” in the Asia‑Pacific region and “training every day” to invade Taiwan.
In response, Chinese diplomats accused the United States of using the Taiwan issue to “contain China” and called on Washington to stop “playing with fire.”
