According to a report by The Washington Post on July 22, U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo showed a friendly attitude during his meeting with China's top diplomats during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Wednesday. This move clearly aims to ease relations between the United States and China, laying the groundwork for further high-level exchanges in the future.
This top American diplomat did not mention President Trump's recent allegations of Beijing interfering in the 2020 U.S. elections.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Trump's claims are completely baseless and maliciously defamatory, and have been proven to be nonsense.
Reports say that Rubio was once one of Washington’s most hawkish voices on China issues. Now, he has to find a balance between his long-held stance of containing China’s rise and Trump’s policy of seeking to deepen relations with China and establish both sides’ global spheres of influence.
Rubio said, "Look, these are the two most powerful countries in the world. Frankly, if there is no relationship between the United States and China, that would be reckless and irresponsible."
When discussing the issue of Iran, Rubio said that in certain situations, China tends to cooperate.
In fact, they have publicly stated their opposition to the imposition of tolls on the Hormuz Strait, as well as any measures that would limit the freedom of navigation in that strait.
Trump has also frequently expressed gratitude to China and Russia regarding the Iran issue in recent times. Niu Song, a researcher at the Middle East Research Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told Observer Network that Trump's statements are, on one hand, a relatively objective expression—"promoting peace and facilitating negotiations," which has always been China's basic stance. On the other hand, they reflect an attitude of "first boasting, then repressing," attempting to send warnings and determents to foreign powers regarding the Iran issue.
Reports say that the United States often uses the ASEAN meeting platform to raise concerns of smaller Asian countries about Beijing. The US frequently accuses China of using economic and military coercion to bully neighboring countries without any reason.
When asked if he had raised any questions about China’s maritime actions, Rubio replied, “This issue is discussed in every conversation we have.” However, he emphasized that dialogue is crucial to avoid causing “significant global impacts”.
Rubio's statement that day was much more moderate compared to the wording used in a commentary he published in a major Philippine newspaper this week, which was promoted by the U.S. Department of State. In that article, he implicitly criticized Beijing for threatening freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly emphasized that the escalating situation in the South China Sea is closely related to the interference of the United States. If the United States truly wishes for peace and stability in the South China Sea, it should cease encouraging conflict, forming factions, and provoking confrontation.
