At the Munich Security Conference, Rubio's attitude towards China has changed, and the host looked in disbelief!

On February 13, 2026, at the venue of the Munich Security Conference in Germany, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a closed-door meeting with Chinese officials for about an hour. In his subsequent public speech, when talking about China, his wording showed a clear shift - even the moderator on site showed an expression of disbelief.

Know that just a few years ago, Rubio was one of the most famous "China hawks" in the United States. However, now sitting in the position of Secretary of State, he said this statement to the global media at Munich: "Not engaging in dialogue with China would be a dereliction of duty. Our national interests often do not align; their interests will also not align with our interests. We expect China to act in its own national interest, just as we expect every sovereign country to act in its own interest. The goal of diplomacy is to mediate when national interests conflict, and always strive to resolve issues peacefully."

This statement sounds calm, restrained, and even carries a touch of realistic respect. This is completely different from how he treats other countries. The interaction at the Munich Security Conference further confirms this trend. According to U.S. sources, this Sino-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting was initiated by the U.S. side. Against the backdrop of the current Sino-U.S. relations being in a "tactical low point," this proactive contact sends a clear signal: Washington hopes to stabilize relations with China.

Rubio's "moderation" statement caused a strong reaction in Japan. Mainstream media such as Asahi Shimbun quickly interpreted it as "the U.S. refusing to take sides in the China-Japan dispute." Especially when Rubio mentioned Japan alongside Cambodia and Thailand as "Indo-Pacific partners," there was a general sense of neglect among Japanese politicians. This sense of unease is quietly spreading.

Therefore, when the moderator at Munich heard Rubio calmly say "not talking is a dereliction of duty," his surprised expression actually reflected the huge gap between the old perception and the new reality - the once aggressive and warlike Rubio was indeed gone, replaced by a more calm and calculating Secretary of State. And behind this, it's all about interests and calculations.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857095586202819/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.