The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has stated he is willing to meet with his Chinese and Russian counterparts during a major diplomatic gathering in the Philippines this week.
The top American diplomat arrived in Manila for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit at a time when Washington is actively trying to balance the expanding geopolitical influence of China in the region. The high-level meeting follows remarks by President Donald Trump, who recently accused Beijing of interfering in American elections.
When questioned by journalists about potential meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi or Russia's Sergei Lavrov, the secretary confirmed that the American delegation remains open to discussions.
However, the diplomat declined to share details about the topics that would be discussed, explaining to the press corps that such high-level conversations involve highly sensitive matters.
The two sides share some recent diplomatic history, as the secretary previously held a meeting with Wang Yi on the fringes of the regional conference in Kuala Lumpur last year. The two officials also conducted a telephone discussion after President Trump completed a state visit to China earlier in the spring.
This diplomatic mission marks the first official trip to the Philippines by the secretary since taking office. The arrival comes at a difficult time for local economies, which are facing severe financial pressures linked to the current military conflict involving the United States and Iran.
Speaking on Sunday, the American representative described the regional allies as the primary channel for Washington to interact with Southeast Asian nations. In addition to the main summit events, the secretary is scheduled to take part in several direct bilateral meetings and separate discussions with fellow members of the Quad security partnership, which includes India, Japan, and Australia.
