U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila on Wednesday, with both officials working to set the stage for what Rubio described as a “very positive visit” by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington this coming September.
The two diplomats held their discussions on the sidelines of a regional forum organized by the Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN. Rubio acknowledged that the two countries hold deep disagreements, but said the goal was to manage those differences before they escalate beyond control.
“The work we need to do now in September is to identify what those areas are, so that we can lay the groundwork for a very positive visit … we talked a lot about that,” Rubio told reporters following the meeting.
He went on to say, “There are areas of great differences. Both sides will acknowledge that. We’ll have to work through those, and I think these differences will exist for the foreseeable future.”
Rubio also noted, “We’re obviously always going to defend our national interest, and I expect they’ll do the same as they define it, but I think there are some areas of potential cooperation.”
Wang Yi did not speak with reporters after the meeting, and China had not yet released a statement about the talks at the time of reporting.
The conversation, which ran approximately 90 minutes, unfolded against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire in trade tensions between the world’s two largest economies. That uneasy peace has been complicated by President Donald Trump’s recent accusations that China interfered in U.S. elections — claims Beijing has dismissed as “pure fabrication.” Rubio said those election interference allegations were not brought up during his conversation with Wang.
Relations between Washington and Beijing have been somewhat steadier since a temporary trade agreement was struck by Trump and Xi in October. The two leaders met in May in Beijing, and China has confirmed that Xi plans to make a state visit to the United States in the fall.
Rubio said the two sides also discussed Taiwan, trade matters, and the bilateral Board of Trade, stressing that open communication between the two nations is essential regardless of their disagreements.
“It would frankly be reckless and irresponsible for the U.S. and China not to have a relationship, given the impact our countries have on the global economy and on the world,” Rubio said.
Before the meeting, Rubio published an opinion piece in Philippine media criticizing Beijing’s behavior in the South China Sea, saying that regional U.S. allies are facing “new and coercive threats” from China.
When asked about a confrontation that took place Monday between Chinese coast guard personnel and Philippine navy members, Rubio called it an escalation that served no one’s interests. He reaffirmed that the United States is bound by its defense treaty with the Philippines and would honor that commitment.
“We intend to live up to our treaty obligations, and I think we’ve done so, and will continue to do so,” he said.
