Top diplomats from China and the United States met on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers’ meeting in Manila on July 22, discussing key issues including President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to the US and ongoing tensions in the South China Sea.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a 90-minute conversation focused on advancing "strategic stability" and fostering "peaceful coexistence" amid a complex geopolitical environment. Wang described the talks as pragmatic and constructive, emphasizing the need to eliminate interference and obstacles to implement agreements reached by the two heads of state. He also conveyed Beijing’s concerns over what China regards as “negative words and actions” by Washington, urging respect for China’s core interests without directly naming specific issues.

Rubio acknowledged persistent differences between the two nations but stressed the importance of managing these tensions responsibly. He highlighted the potential areas for cooperation and noted that preparations for President Xi’s planned September trip to the US were a significant topic of discussion. Rubio characterized the recent clash between Chinese and Philippine forces near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea as negative and unproductive. The incident had led both China and the Philippines to summon each other’s ambassadors amid competing territorial claims in the strategic waters.

The South China Sea remains a contentious issue, with Beijing claiming nearly the entire area through a demarcation line that overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines. Australia’s foreign minister also described the recent incident as destabilizing, while a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson urged involved parties to refrain from escalating tensions.

On Taiwan, which remains a sensitive subject, Rubio confirmed that proposed US arms sales to Taipei remained under internal review. The US is reassessing a $14 billion weapons package amid considerations of domestic production capacity and stockpile constraints. While Washington has not formally submitted the sale to Congress, Trump has suggested the delay might serve as leverage in broader negotiations. China views Taiwan as a part of its territory to be reunified, including by force if necessary, though the US opposes any unilateral attempts to alter the island’s status by force.

Rubio also referenced China’s role in regional dynamics, particularly regarding Iran and global shipping routes. He described Beijing as a rival seeking to extend its influence and expressed concern over China’s stance against the imposition of tolls or restrictions on international waterways, an issue linked to the tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz amid the US-Iran conflict.

The meeting follows a new climate of engagement since President Trump’s visit to Beijing in May, where both sides pledged to build a “constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.” Despite this, underlying rivalries concerning trade, advanced technology, and supply chains remain unresolved.

Separately, the US administration recently chose not to renew a national emergency declaration concerning Hong Kong and lifted sanctions on nine officials from the city and mainland China. Beijing welcomed this move as a positive step aligned with consensus reached in bilateral discussions.

While recent allegations by Trump accusing China of interfering in the 2020 US presidential election have heightened tensions, Rubio noted that election interference was not a topic during his meeting with Wang. The dialogue between the two diplomats represents ongoing efforts to stabilize a complex bilateral relationship amid regional and global challenges.