Latest news with #ASEANPost-MinisterialConference


HKFP
a day ago
- Business
- HKFP
Rubio meets China's Wang on sidelines of ASEAN talks
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi Friday on the sidelines of ASEAN talks in Malaysia, where Washington's tariffs are in sharp focus. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the United States in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 10, 2025. Photo: ASEAN Malaysia 2025. Rubio and Wang's first face-to-face meeting since US President Donald Trump returned to office comes as Washington and Beijing are locked in disputes ranging from trade to Taiwan — and both powers vie for greater influence in the region. Rubio, a longtime China hawk, and Wang are in Kuala Lumpur for a gathering of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which Japan, South Korea and Australia and other nations are also attending. US officials said ahead of Rubio's first trip to the region as secretary of state that Washington was 'prioritising' its commitment to East and Southeast Asia. Rubio said Thursday the United States has 'no intention of abandoning' the Asia-Pacific region. 'Indispensable relationship' But US tariffs have overshadowed the conference, and Rubio has sought to placate Asian trade partners, saying talks were ongoing and might result in 'better' rates than for the rest of the world. Trump has threatened punitive tariffs ranging from 20 to 50 percent against more than 20 countries, many of them in Asia, if they do not strike deals with Washington by August 1. This included long-time US ally Japan which faced a 25 percent across-the board levy, separate from similar charges for cars, steel and aluminium that have already been imposed. Seoul faced a similar tariff percentage. Earlier Friday Rubio met his Japanese and South Korean counterparts, with his spokeswoman Tammy Bruce calling it an 'indispensable relationship.' Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, however, said this week that tariffs were being used as 'sharpened instruments of geopolitical rivalry'. Wang on Thursday said the US tariff drive 'undermines the free trade system'. 'The United States' imposition of high tariffs on Cambodia and Southeast Asian countries is an attempt to deprive all parties of their legitimate rights to development,' Wang said. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends a meeting with ASEAN, Japan's and South Korea's foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on July 10, 2025. Photo: ASEAN Malaysia 2025. Tensions between Washington and Beijing have ratcheted up since Trump took office in January, with both countries engaging in a tariff war that briefly sent duties on each other's exports sky-high. At one point the United States hit China with additional levies of 145 percent on its goods as both sides engaged in tit-for-tat escalation. China's countermeasures on US goods reached 125 percent. Beijing and Washington agreed in May to temporarily slash their staggeringly high tariffs — an outcome Trump dubbed a 'total reset'. Taiwan, South China Sea Before becoming Secretary of State in January, Rubio had already been one of the most vocal critics of China on the American political stage for many years. Rubio and Wang are also likely to discuss US concerns over China's expansionary behaviour in the South China Sea and Beijing's growing military pressure on Taiwan. China claims the democratic self-ruled island as part of its territory and has threatened to use force to bring it under its control. Like most countries, Washington has no formal diplomatic relations with the island. However, the United States is Taiwan's biggest arms supplier and has shown increasing support for Taipei in the face of Beijing's growing military pressure on the island in recent years. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth accused China in late May of 'credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power' in the Asia-Pacific region. He also claimed that Beijing 'trains every day' to invade Taiwan. In response, Chinese diplomats accused the United States of using the Taiwan issue to 'contain China' and called on Washington to stop 'playing with fire'. Dateline: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Type of Story: News Service Produced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to high journalistic standards. Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team One-time Monthly One-time $150 $500 $1,000 Other Donation amount $ Monthly $150 $250 $500 Other Donation amount per month $ Members of HK$150/month unlock 8 benefits: An HKFP deer keyring or tote; exclusive Tim Hamlett columns; feature previews; merch drops/discounts; "behind the scenes" insights; a chance to join newsroom Q&As, early access to our Annual/Transparency Report & all third-party banner ads disabled. Join or donate instantly

The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
EU urges Asean to defend rules-based order amid regional, global conflicts
High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, delivers a speech during the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the European Union in conjunction with the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today. - Bernama KUALA LUMPUR: The European Union and Asean, as the world's two foremost regional organisations, share a joint responsibility to uphold the international rules-based order and defend multilateralism, says EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Kaja Kallas ( pic ). The vice-president of the European Commission said both blocs must continue to promote regional cooperation and integration in the face of mounting global crises. 'In the face of Russia's war against Ukraine, multiple conflicts in the Middle East and the rising tensions in the South China Sea, we stand together as advocates for regional cooperation and integration,' she said. 'We defend the rules-based order and multilateralism in line with the UN Charter. We do this because it is in the interest of every citizen in Europe and every citizen here in Asia,' Kallas said at the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference with the EU on Friday (July 11). Kallas added that as protectors of global norms, the EU and Asean must also push back against renewed protectionism. 'In the face of renewed protectionism, we must boost our cooperation on trade and defend the rules-based, non-discriminatory, open, fair, inclusive, equitable and transparent trading system with the World Trade Organization,' she said. She also extended an invitation to Asean ministers for a working lunch in Brussels this November, on the sidelines of the Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum, to strengthen coordination and 'prepare the ground' for deeper cooperation. 'We must take the 50th anniversary of EU-Asean relations and make it a success. 'This work should involve us identifying concrete deliverables to mark that occasion,' she said, referring to the upcoming Commemorative Summit in 2027. Kallas stressed that the current global instability, marked by threats to territorial integrity and violations of international humanitarian law, required predictable and principled actors. 'Many things that we have taken for granted are now being questioned, including core principles such as territorial integrity and international humanitarian law. 'But the European Union is as committed to upholding global norms as ever before. 'We are a predictable, reliable partner for free trade, multilateralism, solving global issues together and standing up for international law,' she said. She also highlighted the growing interdependence between Asean and the EU, noting that both regions account for over 20% of global GDP and nearly a quarter of global trade. 'Malaysia has helped the EU to cut its dependency on Russia for oil and gas. Brunei has too - thank you for that. 'European-produced electric vehicles run on batteries with inputs from Indonesia and Thailand produces more rubber than any other country in the world. 'We use this in everything from tyres to… well, everything,' she said. Kallas said the EU also provides Asean members with critical imports, including pharmaceuticals, industrial tools and advanced technology. Looking ahead, she voiced confidence that the evolving partnership between the EU and Asean warranted a further upgrade. 'I am confident that the substance of our work together justifies the elevation of our partnership status to one of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,' she said. She closed her remarks by thanking Malaysia for its hospitality and Brunei for assuming the role of Asean country coordinator for the EU.


The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Tok Mat: China to sign treaty as soon as possible
KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 - Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, and China's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, arrive at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre to attend the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with China, held in conjunction with the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM) and related meetings today. -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED KUALA LUMPUR: China has committed to signing the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) Treaty 'as soon as possible' without reservation, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. The Foreign Minister said Beijing's commitment marks a significant step forward for Asean. 'China has made a commitment to ensure that it will sign the SEANWFZ Treaty without reservation. 'This is something very good for Asean. '(China will sign the treaty) as soon as possible when the documentation is ready,' he told reporters after the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference with China. Mohamad described the meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as 'very good', noting that discussions also covered routine bilateral and multilateral issues. These discussions included ensuring free passage and open skies in the South China Sea, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Meanwhile, Wang said the completion of negotiations for the China-Asean Free Trade Area 3.0 to be signed this year would deepen ties between China and Asean member states. He said stability on South China Sea issues would also be effectively managed with the third reading of the Code of Conduct (COC). 'We have completed the third reading of the COC consultation, effectively managed differences and maintained overall stability at sea,' he said. When met on the sidelines of the Asean+3 (China, Japan and South Korea) meeting, Wang did not respond when asked if he would meet United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 'We oppose excessive tariffs,' he told reporters briefly when asked about China's stance towards the tariffs. On July 9, US President Donald Trump announced a slew of tariffs, where Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Tunisia and Kazakhstan were slapped with a 25% rate.


Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
US's Rubio at ASEAN: Russia, Gaza, and trade tariffs on the table
Shafaq News – Kuala Lumpur US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Thursday on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, where the two discussed possible frameworks for renewed peace efforts in Ukraine. Rubio described the hour-long meeting as 'a new and different approach' to ongoing negotiations. 'I wouldn't characterize it as something that guarantees peace,' he told reporters afterward, 'but it's a concept that I'll take back to the president.' The talks come amid mounting frustration in Washington over what officials view as Moscow's inflexibility. Rubio acknowledged that President Donald Trump has been 'disappointed and frustrated that there has not been more flexibility on the Russian side,' referencing remarks the president made earlier in the week. Rubio added that both sides 'shared some ideas about what [a peace roadmap] might look like,' and affirmed Washington's commitment to 'stay involved where we see opportunities to make a difference.' The US-Russia meeting took place against the backdrop of heightened trade and security tensions. Earlier this week, President Trump threatened to impose punitive tariffs —ranging from 20% to 200%—on more than 20 countries, many in Asia, unless new trade agreements are reached by August 1. Suspended duties on copper and pharmaceutical imports are among those expected to be reimposed with higher rates. Addressing the matter, Rubio pointed out, 'I would say that when all is said and done, many of the countries in Southeast Asia are going to have tariff rates that are actually better than countries in other parts of the world.' He also emphasized that the United States has no plans to reduce its presence in the region. 'We've spent decades building these relationships…Not only are we not going to walk away from them, we seek to expand them and build upon them with a part of the world that is essential.' On a possible Gaza ceasefire, the US top official expressed cautious optimism, stating that the parties were "closer than we've been in quite a while" to reaching a temporary truce. According to Rubio, Israel and Hamas have reached a preliminary understanding—mediated by Qatar and Egypt—on a 60-day ceasefire that would allow for the resumption of humanitarian aid through international agencies. 'It appears that generally the terms have been agreed to, but obviously now you need to have talks about how you implement those terms,' he said. Rubio is expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is attending the summit, though no official confirmation has been provided. The ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with Russia was held in Kuala Lumpur today. The Meeting reaffirmed both sides' commitment to advancing the ASEAN-Russia Strategic Partnership and to outline its future direction. The Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress made in… — ASEAN (@ASEAN) July 10, 2025

Straits Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Malaysia says China ready to sign SEA nuclear weapons-free treaty
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamad Hasan chairs the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with China at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, July 10, 2025. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/Pool KUALA LUMPUR - China will sign up to a Southeast Asian treaty banning nuclear weapons in the region as soon as all documentation is ready, Malaysia's foreign minister said on Thursday. The Southeast Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone, or SEANWFZ, has been in force since 1997, limiting the use of nuclear power by members to peaceful purposes, such as power generation. ASEAN's objective is for the world's nuclear powers, including China, the United States, Britain, Russia and France, to sign the treaty and commit to non-use or movement of nuclear weapons in the region, including countries' exclusive economic zones and continental shelves. "China made a commitment to ensure that they will sign the treaty without reservation," Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and partner countries. China is in communication with ASEAN countries about the signing of the protocol, its foreign ministry said. "China has always firmly supported the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Southeast Asia, and has repeatedly expressed its willingness to take the lead in signing the protocol to the treaty," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a regular news briefing. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is currently in Kuala Lumpur to attend meetings with his ASEAN counterparts. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business S'pore to launch new grant for companies, expand support for workers amid US tariff uncertainties Singapore Proposed new law protecting Singaporeans' genetic data to be strengthened: Ong Ye Kung Asia Dr Mahathir at 100: Still haunted by the Malay Dilemma Singapore HDB flats less attainable in 2024 compared with 2022: Report World 'Do some homework': 6 key exchanges between US Senator Duckworth and S'pore envoy nominee Sinha World Trump's ambassador nominee to Singapore Anjani Sinha has a rough day at Senate hearing Multimedia 60 objects to mark SG60: Which is your favourite? Business Fresh grads should 'stay calm' in job search, uptick in hiring seen: Tan See Leng