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

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday on the sidelines of a regional gathering led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, as tensions in the Middle East and the South China Sea dominated diplomatic discussions.

The meeting came as top diplomats from across the region gathered in Manila for Asean-led talks that drew concerns over renewed fighting in the Middle East and fresh friction between China and the Philippines in disputed waters. Rubio and Wang did not speak to reporters as they entered the meeting room.

According to the monitored public feed, the talks were expected to touch on a possible summit between the leaders of the United States and China, which President Donald Trump has suggested could take place by the end of September. Rubio said on Sunday that such a meeting was still anticipated.

The encounter took place against a fragile pause in US-China tensions, which could be strained further by Trump’s accusations that China has interfered in US elections. Beijing has denied those claims.

At the wider Asean forum, Rubio placed responsibility for the Middle East escalation on Iran. Speaking with regional foreign ministers, he said Tehran was “not serious about talks” and warned that the United States would act to protect its interests and those of its allies if diplomacy failed. He also said Iran should not be allowed to control the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that such a move could set a dangerous precedent for other regions, including Southeast Asia.

Rubio used an opinion article published in Philippine media on his arrival in Manila to criticize Beijing’s conduct in the South China Sea. He said Asean states were facing “new and coercive threats” and warned that if those waters fell under the control of a power willing to use commerce as a geopolitical weapon, the United States and Asean countries would face risks to sovereignty, security and economic stability.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, a claim that overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The dispute has led to repeated confrontations over islands and maritime features. Tensions rose again this week after an incident between Chinese coast guard personnel and the Philippine navy, prompting both sides to summon each other’s ambassador.

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the latest clash had caused real concern and described the behaviour as destabilising and risky. China’s foreign ministry rejected outside involvement in the dispute, saying Australia was not a party to the issue and urging other countries not to inflame tensions.

The Manila meetings also brought together representatives from Britain, Canada, the European Union, India, Japan, Russia and South Korea. Wang, meanwhile, said China and Asean could serve as an anchor for peace and development, urging mutual trust, openness and inclusiveness. He told Asean counterparts that Beijing was ready to work with the bloc to remove interfering factors and strengthen regional cooperation.

Rubio also joined the Quad foreign ministers of India, Australia and Japan. In a joint statement, the four countries reaffirmed support for a free and open Indo-Pacific and for Asean unity and centrality.

This report is based on a monitored public feed and attributed to Dawn Home.

Source: Dawn Home - https://www.dawn.com/news/2017513/rubio-holds-talks-with-chinas-wang-yi-as-regional-powers-join-asean-meeting