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Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks about countering China as it expands its global influence. But President Trump’s tariff threats have created friction with U.S. partners.
By Edward Wong
Reporting from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, during Marco Rubio’s first trip to Asia as U.S. secretary of state
July 9, 2025Updated 9:05 p.m. ET
Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Malaysia on Thursday for a gathering of top diplomats from Asian nations, as many of them were grappling with new tariff threats from President Trump.
Mr. Rubio planned to attend a meeting with counterparts from countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations soon after landing in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. He also planned to meet with Russia’s foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, on Thursday, a State Department official said. The Trump administration has been trying to negotiate a settlement to halt the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but Russia has been resistant.
Mr. Rubio is scheduled to have a variety of other diplomatic talks on Thursday and Friday before flying back to Washington. Top diplomats from China, Japan and South Korea are also holding meetings in the city this week.
The State Department is framing Mr. Rubio’s whirlwind trip as an effort to reinforce alliances and partnerships that the United States has across Asia and to counter China by building up those ties.
“In his first trip to Asia as secretary of state, Secretary Rubio is focused on reaffirming the United States commitment to advancing a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific region,” said Tammy Bruce, the State Department spokeswoman, at a news conference in Washington on Tuesday, using a stock phrase that U.S. officials employ to try to underscore China’s aggressive maritime and territorial moves in the region.
However, Mr. Trump’s sudden announcement on Monday that he would impose higher tariffs on 14 nations if they do not reach trade deals with the United States by Aug. 1 is sure to overshadow whatever discussions Mr. Rubio aims to have with the American partners. At least eight of the 14 countries are expected to have diplomats at meetings in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia, the host nation, is one of the 14.
