Manila, en.SERU.co.id — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in the Philippine capital on Wednesday, marking the first senior face-to-face dialogue between the two countries under the current Trump administration.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where both sides sought to manage ongoing tensions and lay the groundwork for a possible summit between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year.
Discussions Focus on Future Summit and Regional Issues
Despite recent tensions, including accusations of election interference, preparations for Xi Jinping’s expected visit to Washington in September appear to be moving forward. Before departing for Manila, Rubio said he had seen no indication that the planned visit would be delayed.
“We anticipate that the trip is happening in September. They’ve continued to send over their teams to prepare for it, and I’ve heard nothing otherwise,” Rubio said.
Beyond preparations for the potential summit, the two diplomats also discussed trade and technology restrictions, as well as disputes in the South China Sea. Rubio reiterated US concerns over economic coercion in the region, while Wang Yi emphasized China’s cooperation with ASEAN member states and opposed what Beijing described as external interference in maritime affairs.
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Although no major agreements were announced, both sides characterized the meeting as constructive and agreed on the importance of maintaining dialogue.
The talks come at a sensitive moment in US-China relations. While strategic competition remains intense across multiple fronts, both governments appear eager to keep communication channels open and reduce the risk of further escalation ahead of the anticipated Trump-Xi summit.
Further updates are expected as both governments release additional official statements.
