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Wang Yi and Marco Rubio at Asean discuss Xi’s planned US visit, South China Sea clash
America’s top diplomat describes dispute between Beijing and Manila over Second Thomas Shoal as very negative and benefiting no one
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Alyssa ChenPublished: 6:04pm, 22 Jul 2026Updated: 6:14pm, 22 Jul 2026The top Chinese and American diplomats discussed President Xi Jinping’s planned visit to the US later this year and the dispute between Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea during their bilateral meeting on Wednesday.Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio are in Manila for a series of Asean meetings from Monday to Thursday, including the Asean foreign ministers’ meeting which brings together 11 member states, along with ministers from Russia, Japan, Australia, Canada and Britain.
After the meeting, Rubio described the recent clash between Beijing and Manila over the Second Thomas Shoal as very negative and benefiting no one.
America’s top diplomat also said China in some ways had been cooperating with the US in its conflict with Iran.
“One thing in particular is that they have been pretty clear that they don’t support any tolling or restrictions on global shipping through international waterways,” Rubio said of China.
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The US State Department issued a statement before Rubio’s trip saying the visit “advances a clear US priority: a free and open Indo-Pacific that delivers safety, security, and prosperity for the region and for the American people”.
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