Tensions at ASEAN: A Flashpoint for US China Relations As Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering in Manila, it became clear that the region is fast becoming a flashpoint for the escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing.
The meeting between Rubio and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi highlighted the deep seated differences that threaten to upend the delicate balance of power in the Asia Pacific.
Rubio acknowledged that the US and China have "great differences" that will persist, but he emphasized the need for both sides to manage these disagreements.