Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Rubio says US expects positive Xi visit after Wang meeting in Manila
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at a regional Asian summit that he expects Chinese President Xi Jinping to have a very positive visit to the United States in September.
The visit has not been officially confirmed, but Rubio said the White House expected it to happen after he met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of a meeting of Southeast Asian leaders in Manila. Rubio said he and Wang had spoken at length and had laid the groundwork for a fruitful trip.
Rubio acknowledged that the United States and China have significant differences. He said those differences would likely continue for the foreseeable future and that both sides needed to manage them so they did not get out of control.
The meeting came days after the United States condemned Beijing's actions in the disputed South China Sea and after President Donald Trump accused China of interference in US elections. Trump last week said there were shocking vulnerabilities in the US electoral system and accused China of hacking data in the 2020 election. Beijing has denied the allegations. Rubio said he and Wang did not discuss the issue.
China's foreign ministry said Wang urged the United States to respect China's core interests and manage differences so that a year of opportunity for China-US relations could become a reality. The ministry also said Wang stated China's position on what it called negative words and actions by the United States, without naming specific issues.
Xi's visit to the United States would follow Trump's trip to Beijing in May. Trump has spoken of his good relationship with Xi despite geopolitical rivalry between the two countries.
Rubio and Wang were in Manila for a meeting of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Maritime security has been a prominent issue at the summit after a clash between Chinese and Philippine sailors in the South China Sea. The United States and its allies condemned China's behaviour as dangerous after the incident. The Philippine military accused the Chinese coast guard of wounding one of its sailors near a disputed islet, while Beijing strongly rejected that account.
Wang also met Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro on Wednesday. China's foreign ministry said Wang referred to persistent difficulties in relations and said the Philippines had become a source of disruption to regional peace and stability. Manila's foreign ministry said Lazaro repeated the Philippines' strong protest over what it called violent actions by Chinese Coast Guard personnel. The statement said both sides stressed the importance of peace, security and stability, reducing the risk of miscalculation and keeping dialogue open.
Rubio wrote in Philippine media on Tuesday that Washington is committed to freedom of navigation in Southeast Asia and reaffirmed the US defensive umbrella in the region. He repeated that message Wednesday in remarks to ASEAN ministers and in meetings with India, Japan and Australia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters in Moscow that he would meet Rubio in Manila on Thursday.
Update
Rubio said the United States and China have significant differences that must be managed so they do not get out of control.
Rubio said he and Wang Yi did not discuss Donald Trump's recent allegation of Chinese interference in US elections.
China's foreign ministry said Wang urged the United States to respect China's core interests and manage differences.
China's foreign ministry said Wang raised China's position on negative words and actions by the United States, without specifying issues.
The report adds details on the South China Sea clash, Wang's meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro, and statements from Beijing and Manila.
Rubio reaffirmed US commitments on freedom of navigation and the US defensive umbrella in the region during the Manila meetings.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he would meet Rubio in Manila on Thursday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 15:48:33 UTC.
Update
Rubio and Wang Yi met on Wednesday on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting in Manila.
Rubio said he expected Chinese President Xi Jinping to make a very positive visit to Washington in September.
The visit has not been officially confirmed, but Rubio indicated the White House expected it to happen.
Rubio said he and Wang discussed preparations for the expected visit and the need to manage US-China differences.
Rubio said he and Wang did not discuss President Donald Trump's recent accusations of Chinese interference in US elections.
Rubio is expected to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday.
Source note: AFP news report published on 22 July 2026 at 12:54:37 UTC.
Update
Rubio and Wang are both in Manila for an ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting.
The source says the two officials met last year on the sidelines of an ASEAN gathering in Kuala Lumpur and again in Munich in February.
Rubio wrote in Philippine media outlets about Washington's commitment to freedom of navigation in Southeast Asia and reaffirmed the US defensive umbrella in the region.
The source describes a Monday clash between Philippine and Chinese sailors at Second Thomas Shoal as the first serious seaborne encounter in months.
The United States called China's actions dangerous and aggressive after Rubio arrived in the Philippines and urged Beijing to stop destabilising conduct.
Wang is also expected to meet his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday.
The source says Rubio and Wang are likely to discuss the Middle East and Trump's claim about Chinese acquisition of US voter files, which China called pure fabrications.
Rubio declined before leaving Washington to say whether he would raise the election issue with Wang.
Rubio said he expected Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit the United States in September after Trump's trip to China last spring.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 15:12:58 UTC.
Update
The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.
The meeting is to take place on the sidelines of an ASEAN summit in Manila.
The source places the meeting against the backdrop of US condemnation of Beijing's manoeuvres in the contested South China Sea.
The source also cites US President Donald Trump's claims that China meddled with American election data.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 July 2026 at 14:25:55 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
Xi's planned visit to the United States has not been officially confirmed.
The United States, China and the Philippines gave differing accounts or positions on recent South China Sea tensions.
Source
AFP news report published on .