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الوسم: Wang Yi

  • China urges India to see bilateral relations as partnership, not rivalry

    China urges India to see bilateral relations as partnership, not rivalry

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. — X@DrSJaishankar/File

    • The foreign ministers of China and India discuss border peace and trade initiatives aimed at strengthening their relationship.

    • Wang Yi mentions that dialogue with India has been gradually re-established.

    • Wang arrived in Delhi on Monday for a two-day diplomatic visit.

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    BEIJING/NEW DELHI: According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, China and India should develop a “correct strategic understanding” and view each other as partners rather than rivals.

    China is prepared to promote principles of friendship and mutual benefit in its interactions with India, as highlighted in the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement following ministers’ talks in New Delhi.

    During their meeting, Wang Yi and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar addressed issues including border stability, trade, and bilateral exchanges, with a focus on enhancing cooperation between the two nations.

    “We had constructive discussions covering our economic and trade relations, pilgrimages, cultural exchanges, river data sharing, border trade, connectivity, and people-to-people contacts,” Jaishankar noted.

    He emphasized that these talks will help foster a stable, cooperative, and forward-looking relationship between India and China.

    Wang Yi stated that exchanges and dialogue at all levels have been steadily restored, signaling a return to cooperative relations, as per Chinese reports.

    Wang also called on both countries — as major global players — to set an example for other developing nations by uniting and strengthening their positions, according to the official statement.

    He urged that China and India should cultivate a “correct strategic understanding,” treating each other as partners and opportunities rather than threats or competitors.

    Wang arrived in India’s capital on Monday for a two-day visit, during which he plans to hold the 24th round of border talks with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

    Earlier, Jaishankar highlighted the significance of discussing border issues, noting that maintaining peace along the disputed Himalayan border is fundamental for positive bilateral momentum.

    “Our relationship has faced some challenging periods, but now both countries are looking to move forward through honest and constructive dialogue,” Jaishankar told Wang in his opening remarks.

    He also stressed the importance of troop de-escalation along the contested border since the deadly clash in 2020.

    Wang’s visit precedes Modi’s upcoming trip to China — his first in seven years — to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, which includes Russia as a member.

    Relations between the two Asian giants started to improve in October after they agreed on a milestone pact to reduce military tensions in their Himalayan border regions, following talks between President Xi Jinping and Modi in Russia.

    Tensions escalated significantly after a military skirmish in summer 2020 that resulted in the deaths of 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers.

  • Rubio and Wang Yi Discuss Deepening Trade Tensions

    Rubio and Wang Yi Discuss Deepening Trade Tensions

    Meeting of US and Chinese Diplomats Highlights Trade Tensions

    KUALA LUMPUR – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Kuala Lumpur on July 11, 2025, amid ongoing tensions concerning recent US trade tariffs. This encounter took place during the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, where multiple global leaders convened to discuss pressing issues.

    Rubio’s visit marks his first trip to Asia since assuming office. He’s participating in the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum, engaging with officials from Japan, South Korea, China, Russia, Australia, India, the European Union, and various Southeast Asian countries.

    The backdrop of their discussions included rising global discord regarding President Trump’s tariffs. Earlier this week, China cautioned the United States against the proposed reinstatement of hefty tariffs, set to go into effect next month. Furthermore, Beijing has warned of potential retaliation against countries that align with the US in diminishing China’s role in supply chains.

    Rubio’s mission aims to refocus attention on the Indo-Pacific region, seeking to shift away from the Middle Eastern and European conflicts that have predominantly governed the Trump administration’s foreign policy. However, this initiative has been overshadowed by recent announcements of steep tariffs impacting numerous Asian countries and US allies. These tariffs include a 25% increase for Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia; 32% for Indonesia; 36% for Thailand and Cambodia; and a staggering 40% for Myanmar and Laos.

    Analysts suggest Rubio’s goal is to advocate for the US as a stronger partner compared to China, which is regarded as Washington’s primary strategic competitor. On his agenda, Rubio has met with counterparts from Thailand, Cambodia, and Indonesia, emphasizing the importance of the Indo-Pacific region to US foreign policy.

    Criticism from China

    China’s Wang Yi has been vocally critical of the US tariffs, labeling them as “unilateral bullying” that no nation should support. In conversations with Malaysia’s foreign minister, Wang emphasized that these tariffs do significant harm to the free trade system and disrupt global production and supply chains.

    During his meeting with Cambodia’s foreign minister, Wang expressed that the US tariffs infringe upon Southeast Asian countries’ right to develop independently. He asserted, “Southeast Asian nations have the resilience to navigate these challenges while maintaining their core interests”, according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.

    Moreover, the Foreign Secretary of the Philippines, a US ally, revealed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to meet Trump in Washington this month to address various topics, including the rising US tariffs affecting the Philippines.

    Rubio and Wang did not make any public remarks at the beginning of their discussions, which lasted approximately an hour and marked their first face-to-face meeting since Rubio took office in January. In prior comments, Rubio indicated plans to address US concerns regarding China’s support for Russia amidst the conflict in Ukraine.

    Additionally, Rubio engaged with Japan’s foreign minister and South Korea’s first vice foreign minister on regional security and the enhancement of their trilateral partnership in critical technologies and supply chains, reflecting the US State Department’s priorities.

    ASEAN’s Collective Response

    In a joint statement issued on Friday, ASEAN foreign ministers voiced concerns over growing trade tensions and global uncertainties. Though the US was not explicitly named, the statement referenced unilateral tariffs as “counterproductive,” reflecting sentiments expressed by ASEAN leaders in previous discussions. They called for diversifying trade with emerging partners and stressed the necessity of a transparent, equitable multilateral trading framework.

    The ASEAN representatives affirmed their commitment to constructive collaboration with all partners towards these goals.

  • Rubio Set to Meet China’s Wang at Today’s ASEAN Summit

    Rubio Set to Meet China’s Wang at Today’s ASEAN Summit

    KUALA LUMPUR: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday during the ASEAN foreign ministers’ gathering in Malaysia, according to the State Department.

    This meeting occurs amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Beijing, which have clashed over a variety of issues, including trade, fentanyl, Taiwan, and advanced technology.

    Rubio and Wang are attending the ASEAN conference along with foreign ministers from Japan, South Korea, and Australia.

    Since President Donald Trump took office in January, hostilities between the U.S. and China have intensified significantly, marked by a trade war that has led to soaring tariffs on each country’s exports. The U.S. at one point imposed additional tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese goods, prompting China to retaliate with counter-tariffs reaching 125 percent on American products.

    In May, both nations reached an agreement in Geneva to temporarily reduce these steep tariffs, an outcome that Trump characterized as a “total reset.”

  • China’s Diplomat Seeks Stronger Ties in Europe Amid Global Unrest

    China’s Diplomat Seeks Stronger Ties in Europe Amid Global Unrest

    China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi Embarks on European Tour


    China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi departs the podium after signing a document at the signing ceremony for the International Organisation for Mediation Convention (IOMed) in Hong Kong on May 30, 2025. — AFP

    • Wang Yi is set to visit the EU headquarters in Brussels, France, and Germany.
    • Yi aims to enhance relations with the European bloc as a counter to the U.S. superpower.
    • The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is likely to be a significant topic of discussion, especially regarding Beijing’s support for Moscow.

    China’s chief diplomat, Wang Yi, is traveling to Europe on Monday in a visit that aims to showcase the importance of Sino-European ties as a "stabilizing factor" in a world marked by uncertainty.

    Wang’s itinerary includes a stop at the European Union’s headquarters in Brussels, as well as meetings in France and Germany. His trip underscores China’s intent to bolster its relationship with the EU as a strategic counterbalance to the United States.

    However, significant tensions linger, particularly concerning economics, illustrated by a substantial trade deficit of $357.1 billion between China and the EU, alongside China’s steadfast alliance with Russia in light of its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

    "The world is experiencing a rapid evolution of long-standing transformations, where unilateralism, protectionism, and bullying behaviors are becoming increasingly prevalent," stated Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Friday, implicitly criticizing the U.S. under President Donald Trump.

    Guo emphasized that, amidst these challenges, China and the EU must work together to "maintain global peace and stability, uphold multilateralism, promote free trade, observe international standards, and act as stabilizing agents in a turbulent global landscape."

    Wang is expected to engage in a "high-level strategic dialogue" with his EU counterpart, Kaja Kallas, at the Brussels headquarters. In Germany, he will meet Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul to discuss diplomacy and security—marking his first visit since Germany’s new conservative government took office in May. Additionally, Wang will speak with French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, who visited China in March.

    The situation in Ukraine is anticipated to be a critical topic, with European leaders vocal about what they perceive as Beijing’s support for Moscow.

    While China positions itself as a neutral party in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Western nations contend that its close ties with Russia offer critical economic and diplomatic backing to Moscow and have urged Beijing to exert influence to end the war.

    Trade Tensions

    Relations between Europe and China have become increasingly strained in recent years, as the EU attempts to adopt a stronger stance against what it considers unfair economic practices by China.

    Following the imposition of tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports by the EU, China reciprocated with its own tariffs, including those affecting French cognac. Although a deal on cognac was reached, it has not yet been formally approved by China’s commerce ministry, according to a source in the French economy ministry.

    This delay was said to be related to ongoing EU negotiations regarding electric vehicles.

    Trade tensions escalated this month when the EU prohibited Chinese companies from selling government medical devices valued over five million euros ($5.8 million) in response to restrictions imposed by Beijing on foreign access to its market. This recent trade dispute encompasses a wide variety of healthcare supplies worth approximately 150 billion euros within the EU.

    In retaliation, China accused the European Union of applying "double standards."

    Another contentious issue is the export of rare earth materials. Since April, Beijing has mandated licenses for exporting these strategically important resources, which account for nearly two-thirds of global production and 92% of refined output, as reported by the International Energy Agency. These metals are critical for various industries, particularly in electric vehicle batteries, and there has been substantial criticism regarding how China handles the issuance of these licenses.

    This month, China proposed the establishment of a "green channel" aimed at facilitating the export of rare earths to the EU, as reported by its commerce ministry.