U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday made clear to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in a phone call that the new Donald Trump administration will focus on American interests above all else, the State Department said.
Rubio, who was sworn in Tuesday as Trump’s top diplomat, also expressed deep concern over China’s “coercive” actions against Taiwan and in the South China Sea, the department said, adding he underscored Washington’s commitment to its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
Combined photo shows U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L, Getty/Kyodo) and China’s top diplomat Wang Yi. (Kyodo)
He told Wang that the Trump administration will pursue a relationship with Beijing that “advances U.S. interests and puts the American people first,” it said.
Still, his conversation with Wang happened only days after the former Republican senator took office, indicating both sides’ willingness to engage despite the former Republican senator remaining sanctioned by Beijing.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Wang and Rubio agreed to maintain communication and manage differences between the world’s two largest economies.
Wang told Rubio that Beijing “has no intention of overtaking or replacing anyone,” but added it “must defend our legitimate right to development,” according to the ministry, which announced their first call under Trump’s second term more than five hours earlier than the State Department.
The Chinese ministry said the conversation took place at Rubio’s request. It quoted Rubio as saying the ties with China are “the most important bilateral relationship in the 21st century” and will determine the future of the world.
Trump has said he is prepared to impose an additional 10 percent tariff on products from China, possibly from Feb. 1. But at the same time, he has voiced hope to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at an early date.
In his video remarks to this year’s World Economic Forum on Thursday, Trump said he “very much” likes Xi.
While reiterating that Chinese trade practices are unfair, Trump, who returned to power on Monday, said he looks forward to “doing very well with China and getting along with China.”
Trump also disclosed he had asked Xi to work together with him to end Russia’s war in Ukraine as early as possible, when they spoke over the phone last Friday.
On Taiwan, which China claims as part of its territory, Wang urged Rubio to handle issues surrounding the island “prudently” and vowed Beijing will “never allow” it to be separated from the country, the ministry said.
It quoted Rubio as saying the United States does not support “Taiwan independence” and hopes that Beijing and the self-ruled island will peacefully resolve any differences in a way acceptable to both sides.
Rubio, known as a longtime China hawk, is banned from entering the Asian country after it sanctioned him in 2020 over his criticism of the Chinese Communist Party’s alleged human rights violations.
In a confirmation hearing for his post at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier this month, Rubio said China is “the most potent and dangerous near-peer adversary” the United States has ever confronted.
Related coverage:
Top diplomats of Japan, U.S. agree to take ties to “new heights”
Trump says he intends to reengage with North Korean leader
Trump says he wants “fairness,” nuclear disarmament talks with China
