Amid escalating global trade tensions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

The U.S. Secretary of State wants to bolster defense ties in the Indo-Pacific, while distrust of Trump’s commitments to the region, particularly on economic issues, runs deep.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Malaysia on Friday. The high-stakes meeting comes as tensions grow between Washington and Beijing over issues from trade to security and China’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Anwar cited the US' willingness to review trade tariffs and strengthen ties with both Malaysia and the broader ASEAN region. The prime minister also extended a formal invitation to Trump, through Rubio, to attend the upcoming summit in October.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is scheduled to visit Washington soon as he underlined the strong ties between the two nations along with Japan.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met counterparts in Southeast Asia on Thursday during his first visit to Asia since taking office, reassuring them it is a priority for Washington despite President Donald Trump's tariff offensive.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur on Thursday to attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, local media reported. This marks Rubio's first visit to the region since he assumed office earlier this year, the state-run Bernama news agency reported.