Kuala lumpur: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi utilized the ASEAN platform to engage in strategic talks with regional countries in a bid to consolidate alliances and address ongoing geopolitical tensions. Rubio, in his maiden trip to Asia since taking office, and Wang, a seasoned diplomat, both attended the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Monday. According to Thai News Agency, Marco Rubio emphasized the significance of the Indo-Pacific region in US foreign policy during his meeting with ASEAN foreign ministers. Analysts suggest that Rubio is eager to position the United States as a more favorable partner in the region compared to China. The US State Department announced that Rubio had scheduled bilateral discussions with the foreign ministers of Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties. In contrast, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi seized the opportunity to sharply criticize US p olicies, particularly the imposition of tariffs. During his discussions with Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sengiampong, Wang accused the United States of abusing tariffs, disrupting the free trade system, and destabilizing global supply chains. He further voiced concerns to his Cambodian counterpart about the US tariffs hindering Cambodia's development rights. The diplomatic engagement culminated in a significant hour-long bilateral meeting between Rubio and Wang, marking their first encounter. The meeting underscored the complexities of US-China relations and the strategic importance of ASEAN as a diplomatic platform for both superpowers.
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