Rubio to Meet China’s Wang Yi Amid Tariff Tensions at ASEAN Summit

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday in Kuala Lumpur, marking their first in-person talks. The meeting comes amid rising U.S.-China tensions over trade and geopolitical rivalry, as Rubio joins the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and East Asia Summit.

Rubio arrived in Malaysia on Thursday for his first trip to Asia since taking office. While in Kuala Lumpur, he met senior Malaysian officials and his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. The visit underscores Washington's renewed focus on the Indo-Pacific region, as the U.S. seeks to reaffirm its strategic presence amid growing Chinese influence.

Rubio is expected to emphasize that the U.S. remains a more reliable partner than China, particularly as Beijing faces criticism for its support of Russia in the Ukraine war. "The Chinese clearly have been supportive of the Russian effort," Rubio told reporters, suggesting he will raise the issue directly with Wang.

The meeting follows renewed trade friction between the U.S. and China. Beijing this week warned against the potential reinstatement of tariffs by the U.S., with a deadline of August 12 to strike a deal. Trump has threatened new levies exceeding 100% on Chinese goods and an additional 10% on countries aligned with BRICS, including new members Indonesia and Iran.

Despite the tensions, Trump recently claimed the U.S. and China are "getting along very well," citing ongoing communication with President Xi Jinping. On Friday, Rubio will also meet with Japan’s foreign minister and South Korea’s deputy minister, following Trump’s announcement of 25% tariffs on both U.S. allies.

The visit highlights the strategic balancing act as Washington navigates trade, security, and diplomatic challenges across Asia.