Rubio Meets Wang Yi, Lavrov in Malaysia Amid Tensions

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded his first official Asia trip with a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in Malaysia, amid rising tensions over trade, security, and China's support for Russia's war in Ukraine. The talks mark the first in-person encounter between Rubio and Wang since Rubio, who has been sanctioned by Beijing and is known for his hawkish China stance, took office. Rubio also met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to discuss options for restarting Ukraine peace negotiations. Southeast Asian nations at the ASEAN forum voiced concerns about U.S. trade tariffs and Chinese regional dominance but signaled interest in maintaining strong U.S. ties. The meeting takes place as President Trump threatens new tariffs on both U.S. allies and adversaries, increasing diplomatic complexity in the region. Malaysia, serving as a neutral venue, provides a rare opportunity for direct dialogue between U.S. and Chinese officials.