Daijiworld Media Network – Washington
Washington, May 14: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has described China as America’s biggest geopolitical challenge and the most important relationship to manage, ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his two-day state visit to China.
In an interview with Fox News, Rubio said the United States and China would continue to have conflicting interests despite possibilities for cooperation in certain areas.
“It’s both our top political challenge, geopolitically, and it’s also the most important relationship for us to manage,” Rubio said.
Calling China a “big, powerful country,” Rubio said the US would have to carefully manage differences between the world’s two largest economies in order to maintain peace and avoid conflicts.
“There might be some areas of cooperation too, and we want to make sure we don’t walk away from those,” he added.
Before leaving Washington, Rubio also urged China to play a more active role in reducing tensions involving Iran, particularly over the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Referring to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s visit to Beijing, Rubio said he hoped China would tell Iran that its actions in the strategic waterway were isolating it globally.
Iran has tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz following attacks by the United States and Israel. The narrow waterway is considered one of the world’s most crucial oil transit routes.
Rubio said it was in China’s own interest to help resolve tensions, noting that Asian economies, including China’s export-driven economy, would suffer if instability in the Gulf region continued.
Rubio also said Taiwan was likely to feature in discussions between Trump and Xi Jinping. He stated that both countries understood that instability in Taiwan or the Indo-Pacific region would not benefit either side.
China has increased military activity around Taiwan in recent years, while the United States has maintained its strategic position on the self-governing island claimed by Beijing.
On human rights concerns, Rubio said the United States continues to raise such issues with China. During his time as a senator, Rubio had strongly criticised Beijing over allegations related to the Uyghur minority and forced labour practices.
When asked whether Trump would directly raise human rights concerns during the visit, Rubio said the issues are discussed in “appropriate settings,” while maintaining that the US continues to address them with Beijing.