US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Malaysia on Friday, the opportunity to approach several bilateral disagreements, notably the trade war, Taiwan, the Southern China Sea or High Technologies.
The two men began their interview in Kuala Lumpur, an AFP journalist noted.
This meeting, the first between MM. Rubio and Wang since the return to the White House of Donald Trump, takes place on the sidelines of meetings of foreign ministers in the countries of the Association of Nations of Southeast Asia (ASEAN).
Known for his firm statements against China, Marco Rubio is carrying out his first visit to Asia since taking office in January.
Despite this deadline, the head of American diplomacy assured Thursday that the United States “in no way intends to abandon” Asia-Pacific.
The American customs duties, however, worry the nations of the region.
Donald Trump warned this week that he will impose punitive from more than 20 countries, especially Asian, if they did not agree with Washington by August 1.
Marco Rubio tried to reassure the nations of Southeast Asia on Thursday by saying that they could benefit from “best” rate than the rest of the world.
Among the targeted countries is Japan, a long-standing ally of the United States, which could be imposed on a uniform tax of 25%, in addition to customs duties already applied to cars, steel and aluminum. Seoul is faced with a similar level of taxation.
Marco Rubio met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts on Friday. His spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, has in the process qualified this relationship as “essential”.
– “legitimate law” –
The United States “undermines the free trade system and disrupt the stability of the world supply chain,” said Wang Yi during a meeting with his Thai counterpart Maris Sangiampongsa, according to a statement published on Friday by Beijing.
During another interview with his Cambodian counterpart Prak Sokhonn, Wang Yi accused Washington of “depriving” Southeast Asia of his “legitimate right to development”.
Sino-American tensions have increased since Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
In particular on behalf of the fight against the American trade deficit vis-à-vis China, Trump has engaged an economic showdown with Beijing, with customs duties.
In May, Chinese and American, however, agreed with a ceasefire and agreed to temporarily reduce the prohibitives who were customs that they won each other.
In addition to trade, the question of Beijing actions in the Southern China Sea is probably one of the main subjects discussed between MM. Wang and Rubio.
Just like that of Taiwan, under military and economic pressure of Beijing.
China says it wants to “unify” this island of around 23 million inhabitants with the rest of its territory, by force if necessary.
Like the vast majority of countries around the world, the United States have no diplomatic relations with the island territory. But they are the main supplier of weapons and have been showing growing support in Taipei in recent years in the face of the Chinese authorities – which binds Beijing.
– Rivalry at sea –
The United States Minister of Defense, Pete Hegseth, had accused China at the end of May of preparing “potentially using military force to modify the balance of forces” in Asia-Pacific. He also assured that Beijing “trains every day” to invade Taiwan.
In response, Chinese diplomacy had reproached the United States for using the Taiwanese question to “contain China” and called Washington not to “play with fire” on this question.
Beijing’s actions, deemed “provocative” by Washington near islets disputed with ASEAN member countries, will also be one of the subjects of Friday discussions.
China claims almost all of the islands and reefs of the Southern China Sea, where other residents (Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei) also have claims of sovereignty.
The United States regularly describes China as a threat. In the other sense, Beijing calls Washington to have peaceful relationships, based on partnership.
Posted on July 11 at 9:37 a.m., AFP
