Rubio holds talks with China's Wang Yi as regional powers join Asean meeting

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday, with both diplomats attending a regional gathering in Manila hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The meeting occurred as top diplomats voiced concerns about escalating hostilities in the Middle East and rising tensions in the disputed South China Sea. Discussions were anticipated to address a potential US-China leaders' summit, which President Donald Trump had flagged for late September. Rubio, speaking on Sunday, indicated the summit was still expected. Neither Rubio nor Wang addressed the media as they entered their meeting room. The talks took place against a backdrop of a fragile truce between the world's two largest economies, a relationship potentially complicated by Trump's unsubstantiated accusations of Chinese interference in US elections. During the broader Asean meeting, Rubio squarely blamed Iran for the current Middle East conflict, stating, "The problem we’re having right now is that they’re not serious about talks." He added, "If they’re serious, we’re serious. If they’re not, then we will do what’s necessary to protect our interests, and also the interests of our allies." Rubio emphasized that Iran must not be allowed to control the Strait of Hormuz, warning it could set a dangerous precedent globally. In a separate development, Rubio authored an opinion piece published Tuesday, criticizing Beijing's actions in the South China Sea. He warned that Asean nations face "new and coercive threats" and that if a power willing to use commerce as a geopolitical weapon controls the waters, both the US and Asean states would confront "dire new threats to their sovereignty, security, and economic futures." China's Foreign Ministry responded to Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong's concerns about China's behavior in the South China Sea, stating Australia has no right to intervene. China urged relevant countries to cease stirring up tension and confrontation.

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The problem we’re having right now is that they’re not serious about talks. If they’re serious, we’re serious. If they’re not, then we will do what’s necessary to protect our interests, and also the interests of our allies.