US, China have 'positive' meeting at Asean foreign minister talks
Beijing in a separate statement said "both sides agreed that the meeting was positive, pragmatic and constructive". Both countries agreed to "enhance communication and dialogue through diplomatic channels... and explore expanding cooperation areas while managing differences," China's foreign ministry said. The sit-down between Wang and Rubio came as Asian foreign ministers wrapped up three days of intensive talks at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations meet in Kuala Lumpur. Top diplomats from Russia, the European Union, Britain and Canada also attended.
US officials said ahead of Rubio's first trip to the region as secretary of state that Washington was "prioritising" its commitment to East and Southeast Asia. While US tariffs overshadowed the gathering, Rubio said he was "warmly received" by Asian partners as he sought to placate concerns over the duties. "If you look at some of these trade deficits, they're massive. That has to be addressed," Rubio said at the end of his whirlwind trip. "Everybody here is a mature leader who understands that that's not sustainable."
Trump has threatened punitive tariffs ranging from 20 to 50 per cent against more than 20 countries, many of them in Asia, if they do not strike deals with Washington by August 1. Asean expressed "concern" over tariffs, which it described as "counterproductive" and a threat to regional growth, according to a Joint Communique released on Friday. Long-time US ally Japan faces a 25-per cent across-the-board levy, separate from similar charges for cars, steel and aluminium that have already been imposed. South Korea faces a similar tariff.
Rubio met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts earlier on Friday, with his spokeswoman Tammy Bruce calling it an "indispensable relationship". Wang said on Thursday the US tariff drive "undermines the free trade system". "The United States' imposition of high tariffs on Cambodia and Southeast Asian countries is an attempt to deprive all parties of their legitimate rights to development," Wang said. Tensions between the United States and China have ratcheted up since Trump took office in January, with both countries engaging in a tariff war that briefly sent duties on each other's exports sky-high. — AFP
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