MANILA — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering, as Washington and Beijing sought to sustain high-level dialogue despite renewed friction over the South China Sea and other strategic disputes.
The meeting, confirmed by a U.S. State Department official, took place during a series of ASEAN-led security meetings in the Philippine capital, where regional ministers have focused on maritime security, tensions in the Middle East and broader geopolitical stability. Rubio and Wang did not make public remarks before the talks.
The discussions came amid a fragile improvement in U.S.-China relations following earlier diplomatic engagement between the two governments. Officials are also expected to discuss preparations for a possible summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this year, after Trump said a meeting remained under consideration for late September.
The talks unfolded as tensions remained elevated in the South China Sea following a recent confrontation involving China and the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally. The incident prompted diplomatic protests from both governments and renewed international attention on competing maritime claims in one of the world's busiest shipping corridors.
Ahead of the meeting, Rubio reaffirmed Washington's commitment to freedom of navigation and support for allies in the Indo-Pacific, arguing that China's actions in the disputed waters threaten regional sovereignty and stability. Beijing has rejected such criticism, maintaining that its activities are lawful and accusing outside powers of increasing confrontation in the region.
ASEAN foreign ministers also expressed concern over rising global security risks, including renewed conflict in the Middle East, while reiterating support for peace, stability and adherence to international law. Regional diplomats have continued to urge progress on a long-discussed code of conduct for the South China Sea aimed at reducing the risk of conflict.
Rubio also met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his visit, with both sides discussing bilateral relations, economic cooperation and regional security, according to Philippine officials.
No joint statement or substantive outcome from the Rubio-Wang meeting had been announced by either government as of Wednesday, and officials indicated diplomatic engagement would continue through the remaining ASEAN meetings.
