{"id":30170,"date":"2025-07-12T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=30170"},"modified":"2025-07-11T23:40:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T20:40:15","slug":"rubio-and-wang-yi-hold-first-in-person-talks-in-malaysia-amid-tariff-tensions-between-us-and-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/rubio-and-wang-yi-hold-first-in-person-talks-in-malaysia-amid-tariff-tensions-between-us-and-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Rubio and Wang Yi hold first in-person talks in Malaysia amid tariff tensions between US and China"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>5 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held their first face-to-face meeting in Malaysia on July 11, 2025, during the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The bilateral meeting was described by the both sides as \u201cpositive and constructive.\u201d The meeting occurred against the backdrop of a sweeping tariff offensive launched earlier this week by President Donald Trump. The new U.S. tariff measures target several Asian countries, further complicating the regional dynamics that Washington seeks to stabilize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rubio emphasized the importance of restoring confidence in America\u2019s Indo-Pacific strategy. However, the timing of his visit was clouded by President Trump\u2019s announcement of steep import tariffs, which many ASEAN nations view as destabilizing and unilateral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re two big, powerful countries, and there are always going to be issues that we disagree on. I think there are some areas of potential cooperation, and I thought it was a very constructive, positive meeting, and a lot of work to do,\u201d Rubio told reporters after the meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He clarified that the discussions were not aimed at negotiating specific issues but rather at creating a baseline for continued dialogue. \u201cWe have to build the right atmosphere and build &#8230; deliverables, so that a visit isn\u2019t just a visit, but it has some takeaways from it that are concrete. But there\u2019s a strong desire on both sides to do it,\u201d Rubio said about a potential Trump-Xi summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\uddf3\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Chinese?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Chinese<\/a> FM <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WangYi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#WangYi<\/a> met with <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/US?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#US<\/a> Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur.<br><br>\ud83d\udd3a<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#China<\/a> hopes that the U.S. can view China with an objective, rational, and pragmatic attitude, formulate its policies toward China with the goal of peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OOATmjuVKq\">pic.twitter.com\/OOATmjuVKq<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Liu Pengyu \u5218\u9e4f\u5b87 (@SpoxCHNinUS) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SpoxCHNinUS\/status\/1943658907588497519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 11, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<p><br>China\u2019s Foreign Ministry echoed similar sentiments, stating that both sides should \u201ctranslate the consensus reached by their leaders into policies and actions.\u201d It added that the meeting was \u201cpositive, pragmatic, and constructive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Escalating tariff pressures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the diplomatic overtures, the elephant in the room remained Washington\u2019s latest trade measures. China, already targeted with tariffs exceeding 100%, has until August 12 to negotiate a deal with the U.S. to avert additional restrictions that were imposed during earlier rounds of tit-for-tat exchanges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other Asian countries are also feeling the squeeze, the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on imports from Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia; 32% on Indonesia; 36% on Thailand and Cambodia; and 40% on goods from Myanmar and Laos. These measures have not only triggered widespread concern in the region but have also provided China with an opportunity to present itself as a more consistent and less coercive economic partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wang Yi did not mince words in condemning Washington\u2019s actions. During talks with regional counterparts in Kuala Lumpur, he called the U.S. tariffs \u201ctypical unilateral bullying behavior\u201d and urged ASEAN nations not to support or acquiesce to American trade demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe tariffs have been abused and undermined the free trade system, and interfered with the stability of the global production and supply chain,\u201d Wang told Thailand\u2019s foreign minister.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chinese-Foreign-Minister-Wang-Yi.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chinese-Foreign-Minister-Wang-Yi.jpg?resize=690%2C370&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi\" class=\"wp-image-27597\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chinese-Foreign-Minister-Wang-Yi.jpg?w=690&amp;ssl=1 690w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Chinese-Foreign-Minister-Wang-Yi.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. (Image Credit: Chinese Foreign Ministry)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>In a separate meeting with his Cambodian counterpart, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi framed the U.S. measures as an attempt to \u201cdeprive Southeast Asian countries of their legitimate right to development.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe believe that Southeast Asian countries can cope with complex situations, adhere to principled positions, and safeguard their own interests,\u201d Wang added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>ASEAN pushes back<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reflecting the broader regional unease, ASEAN foreign ministers released a joint communiqu\u00e9 on Friday expressing deep concern over the growing global trade tensions. Without directly naming the United States, the statement criticized unilateral tariffs as \u201ccounterproductive and risk exacerbating global economic fragmentation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ministers reiterated their call for a \u201ctransparent and fair multilateral trading system,\u201d indicating a preference for rule-based mechanisms over coercive bilateralism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While Rubio attempted to reassure regional partners that the United States remains committed to supporting economic and security cooperation in Southeast Asia, the tariff controversy has cast a long shadow over his diplomatic efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>Regional engagements and security talks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond his meeting with Wang Yi, Rubio held discussions with the foreign ministers of Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. He also met with Russia\u2019s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov one day before meeting Wang Yi, describing the interaction as \u201cconstructive,\u201d especially regarding potential shifts in Moscow\u2019s stance on Ukraine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t want to oversell it, okay, but it was constructive,\u201d Rubio said. \u201cWe\u2019ll find out, but there are some things that we will potentially explore, and I relayed that to the president and our team last night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/US-China-flags.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/US-China-flags.jpg?resize=690%2C370&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"US and China flags\" class=\"wp-image-23756\" style=\"width:840px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/US-China-flags.jpg?w=690&amp;ssl=1 690w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/US-China-flags.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em><sup>US and China flags flutter outside the building of an American company in Beijing, China, on January 21, 2021. (Image Credit: Reuters\/Tingshu Wang\/via X)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Rubio also used the forum to strengthen trilateral ties with Japan and South Korea. He met with Japanese Foreign Minister and South Korea\u2019s First Vice Foreign Minister to discuss regional security and reaffirm the \u201cindispensable trilateral partnership,\u201d according to a U.S. State Department statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When asked about recent comments by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who suggested that Japan should reduce its dependency on Washington, Rubio struck a conciliatory tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe obviously have very strong commitments and an alliance with Japan. We continue to cooperate very closely with them,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><strong>A possible Trump-Xi summit?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The path forward appears to hinge on the possibility of a high-level meeting between President Trump and President Xi Jinping. Both sides have signaled interest, but expectations remain tempered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rubio stressed the importance of not holding a summit for optics alone, saying that any potential meeting must yield \u201cconcrete takeaways\u201d to be meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While no date has been set, Friday\u2019s meeting between Rubio and Wang is being viewed as a modest but necessary step toward lowering the temperature in U.S.-China relations, at least diplomatically, if not economically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the Indo-Pacific region becomes increasingly entangled in the strategic rivalry between the two powers, the challenge ahead will be to move from symbolic diplomacy to substantive policy shifts. Whether either side is willing to make those shifts before the tariff deadlines remains to be seen.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Trump-Xi.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"690\" height=\"370\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Trump-Xi.jpg?resize=690%2C370&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping\" class=\"wp-image-4992\" style=\"width:840px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Trump-Xi.jpg?w=690&amp;ssl=1 690w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Trump-Xi.jpg?resize=300%2C161&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sup><em>U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi during Xi&#8217;s state visit to United States in April 2017. (Image Credit: Carlos Barria\/Reuters)<\/em><\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held their first face-to-face meeting in Malaysia on July 11, 2025, during the East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30171,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[124,1,125],"tags":[221,137,380,509,45,208,134,80,302,892,296,7],"class_list":["post-30170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia-pacific","category-news","category-united-states","tag-asean","tag-asia","tag-asia-pacific","tag-cambodia","tag-china","tag-diplomacy","tag-economy","tag-malaysia","tag-south-east-asia","tag-tariff","tag-trade","tag-u-s"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/US-Rubio-China-Wangyi-meeting.jpg?fit=690%2C370&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jJWb-7QC","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30170"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30178,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30170\/revisions\/30178"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}