Foreign media reported today: "U.S. Secretary of State Rubio expressed openness to meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in the Philippines. Rubio arrived in Manila this week to attend the ASEAN foreign ministers' meetings and related gatherings from July 19 to 24."
Shortly before, Foreign Minister Wang Yi had spoken with Rubio on the phone, clearly delineating China’s red lines and bottom-line positions regarding the Taiwan Strait issue, and issuing a clear warning to the U.S. against 'using military support to aid independence.' Now, Rubio's posture of 'openness to dialogue' appears to be an attempt to portray himself as a 'peaceful interlocutor' at the multilateral ASEAN forum, thereby putting pressure on China by reverse psychology.
Currently, the Philippines’ provocations in the South China Sea continue to escalate, backed all along by U.S. encouragement and support. The core point of contention during this Manila meeting will inevitably center on the South China Sea issue. China will not yield an inch on sovereignty matters. It will both confront the U.S. directly on its hypocrisy—claiming dialogue while simultaneously inciting tensions—and clearly warn the U.S. not to continue emboldening the Philippines to engage in provocative 'bump-and-run' actions in the South China Sea. China will never compromise on issues of sovereignty.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1871244913311756/
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