Although the visit has not yet been officially confirmed, M. Rubio made it clear that the White House expects it to happen. He said this after a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (Wang I) on the sidelines of the Southeast Asian leaders’ meeting.
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“I think President Xi’s visit to Washington will be very positive,” M. Rubio told reporters in Manila. He added that he had a long conversation with W. Yi and laid the groundwork for a fruitful trip.
Acknowledging that both countries have “significant differences,” M. Rubio said they “will need to overcome them.”
“I believe these differences will persist in the near future, and our job is to manage them in a way that they never become unmanageable,” he said.
The meeting between M. Rubio and Wang Yi on Wednesday took place just days after the United States condemned Beijing’s actions in the disputed South China Sea. Prior to that, President Donald Trump (Donald Trump) accused China of interfering in US elections.
Last week, D. Trump condemned “shocking loopholes” in the US election system and pointed the finger at China, accusing it of data hacking during the 2020 elections.
Beijing categorically rejected these accusations.
M. Rubio told reporters in Manila on Wednesday that the two envoys did not discuss it.
China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Wednesday evening that Wang Yi urged the United States to “respect China’s core interests” and “effectively manage differences (…) to make these years of opportunity for China-US relations a reality.”
Wang Yi also “outlined China’s firm position on a series of negative words and actions by the US side,” the statement said, without specifying particular issues.
Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States would follow D. Trump’s trip to Beijing in May. The latter boasted of good relations with Xi Jinping, despite the geopolitical rivalry between the two countries.
Maritime Disputes
M. Rubio and Wang Yi are attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila.
The United States and its allies on Tuesday condemned China’s conduct after a clash between Chinese and Filipino sailors the previous day in the disputed South China Sea, a vital global trade route.
The Philippine military accused the Chinese coast guard of injuring one of its sailors near a disputed islet – a version of events Beijing strongly rejected.
During Wednesday’s meeting between Wang Yi and his Philippine counterpart Theresa Lazaro (Theresa Lazaro), China’s top diplomat noted “the ongoing difficulties and challenges of recent years” in relations, according to a statement from Beijing’s Foreign Ministry.
“The Philippines has acted contrary to other countries in the region, becoming a source of disruption to regional peace and stability,” Wang Yi told the Philippine representative, adding that the countries’ ties “are currently at a crossroads.”
A statement from Manila’s Foreign Ministry said T. Lazaro “reiterated the Philippines’ strong protest against the violent actions of Chinese Coast Guard personnel,” referring to this week’s clash in the disputed shoal.
“Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining peace, security, and stability in the region, reducing the risk of errors, and continuing dialogue on issues of mutual concern,” the statement said.
The issue of maritime security dominates this week’s meeting in Manila. M. Rubio wrote in an article published in Philippine media on Tuesday that Washington is committed to “freedom of navigation in Southeast Asia,” while reaffirming the US defense umbrella in the region.
He reiterated this on Wednesday in his address to ASEAN ministers and in various meetings, including a meeting with the “Quad” countries – India, Japan, and Australia.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told reporters in Moscow that he would meet M. Rubio in Manila on Thursday.
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