US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he is open to meeting with his Chinese and Russian counterparts this week during his visit to the Philippines for a meeting of Southeast Asian foreign ministers. Rubio's attendance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering in Manila comes as the United States seeks to counter China's growing regional influence. 'We'd be open to meeting with them,' Rubio told reporters when asked if meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi or Russia's Sergei Lavrov were in the works.
Rubio met Wang on the sidelines of the ASEAN gathering in Kuala Lumpur last year. The two also spoke by telephone following President Donald Trump's visit to China in the spring. The Philippines trip, Rubio's first to the country as secretary of state, comes as regional allies are under economic strain caused by the rekindled US-Iran war.
The US diplomat on Sunday called ASEAN 'our primary way of engaging the region', adding he would participate in a host of bilateral meetings, as well as sit-downs with fellow Quad members India, Japan and Australia. Rubio's approach to the region reflects the US's ongoing efforts to maintain its influence in Southeast Asia amidst rising Chinese assertiveness.
The potential meetings with Chinese and Russian officials underscore the complex diplomatic landscape in the region. As the US seeks to strengthen ties with ASEAN nations, it must also navigate its relationships with major powers like China and Russia. The outcome of these potential meetings could have significant implications for regional stability and US foreign policy.