At a conference in Kuala Lumpur, Secretary of State Marco Rubio attempts to rally Southeast Asian nations to align with U.S. interests against China’s influence. However, new tariff threats from President Trump complicate U.S. efforts, raising concerns among regional allies.
U.S. vs. China: A Struggle for Asian Influence Amid Tariff Tensions
U.S. vs. China: A Struggle for Asian Influence Amid Tariff Tensions
Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeks to strengthen U.S. partnerships in Asia as China pushes back, amid growing trade tensions and tariff threats from the Trump Administration.
In the capital of Malaysia this week, the United States and China are engaged in a contest for influence and loyalty in Asia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been pressing regional officials gathered at a conference in Kuala Lumpur to align with Washington’s efforts to restrict trade with China. At the same gathering, China’s top foreign policy official, Wang Yi, has been urging those officials to resist U.S. pressure and embrace Beijing as the more reliable partner.
The trade dispute is likely to be high on the agenda at a meeting between Mr. Rubio and Mr. Wang on Friday on the sidelines of the conference. The countries have clashed over America’s restrictions on tech and other exports to China; U.S. support for Taiwan; and China’s chokehold on critical minerals and its control over some supply chains.
Mr. Rubio also met with officials from Japan and Korea on Friday as he worked to shore up Washington’s influence with its allies and partners. He will meet with the top diplomats from Southeast Asia later in the day, at talks expected to be attended also by Mr. Wang and Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia.
However, Mr. Rubio’s efforts have been overshadowed by new tariff threats that President Trump made to 14 foreign leaders, which have infuriated the target governments, including Malaysia, the host of the meeting. Diplomats from seven other nations targeted by the move are also at the meeting. The tariff threats are aimed even at treaty allies, including Japan and South Korea, raising further doubts about U.S. commitment to Asia.
Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, was seen talking with Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, at the meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday while navigating these tense diplomatic waters.
The trade dispute is likely to be high on the agenda at a meeting between Mr. Rubio and Mr. Wang on Friday on the sidelines of the conference. The countries have clashed over America’s restrictions on tech and other exports to China; U.S. support for Taiwan; and China’s chokehold on critical minerals and its control over some supply chains.
Mr. Rubio also met with officials from Japan and Korea on Friday as he worked to shore up Washington’s influence with its allies and partners. He will meet with the top diplomats from Southeast Asia later in the day, at talks expected to be attended also by Mr. Wang and Sergey Lavrov, the foreign minister of Russia.
However, Mr. Rubio’s efforts have been overshadowed by new tariff threats that President Trump made to 14 foreign leaders, which have infuriated the target governments, including Malaysia, the host of the meeting. Diplomats from seven other nations targeted by the move are also at the meeting. The tariff threats are aimed even at treaty allies, including Japan and South Korea, raising further doubts about U.S. commitment to Asia.
Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, was seen talking with Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, at the meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday while navigating these tense diplomatic waters.
