PHUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio held bilateral talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting on July 22, 2026. The meeting occurred amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, as well as ongoing disputes between China and the Philippines over an incident in the South China Sea. Rubio emphasized the need for serious dialogue with Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz and warned against allowing any nation to use commerce as a geopolitical tool, particularly in the South China Sea. He highlighted concerns over China's growing influence in the region and its potential impact on the sovereignty and security of ASEAN nations.
Bias read (Conservative): The article frames the discussion around US-China relations through a lens that emphasizes American strategic interests and portrays China as a potential threat to regional stability. It highlights Rubio's warnings about China using commerce as a geopolitical weapon and underscores concerns over its
