Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Malaysia to attend several diplomatic meetings with senior Malaysian government officials. It is his first diplomatic visit to Asia as a member of the Trump administration.
Rubio’s visit to the country comes a day after President Donald Trump announced imports from Malaysia would face a 25% tariff.
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Rubio will visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from July 8 to July 12 and participate in the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-United States Post-Ministerial Conference, and the ASEAN Regional Forum Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, according to a press release by the State Department.
“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,” read the release.
“During this trip, the Secretary will highlight the strength of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN in delivering results for the American people and the people of Southeast Asia, as well as our commitment to building on our Comprehensive Partnership with Malaysia,” the release noted.
TRUMP SENDS LETTERS TO JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA ANNOUNCING 25% TARIFFS ON AUG. 1
ASEAN consists of ten member states: Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the People’s Democratic Republic of Lao, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The alliance’s motto is “one vision, one identity, one community.”
China’s presence will also be felt at the summit despite not being an ASEAN member. Foreign Minister Wang Yi will attend the diplomatic meeting. It has not been confirmed whether Yi will meet with Rubio.