US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says US-China ties have reached strategic stability ahead of President Trump’s upcoming visit to Beijing

BASSETERRE: The United States and China have achieved a state of “strategic stability” in their long-fractious relationship, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Rubio made the assessment ahead of President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to China later this month.

“I think we’ve reached a point at least of a sort of strategic stability in the relationship,” Rubio told reporters in Saint Kitts and Nevis.

He suggested both nations recognised the mutual damage of an all-out trade war.

Rubio, a longtime China hawk, said the US would continue raising key concerns.

This includes efforts to diversify supply chains away from Chinese dominance.

He also vowed to keep pressing China to join trilateral nuclear arms talks.

The push follows a senior US official’s meeting with Russian and Chinese counterparts in Geneva.

This meeting occurred after the New START treaty between the US and Russia expired.

“They have publicly said they’re not willing to do it,” Rubio said of China’s stance on nuclear negotiations.

He added the US would continue advocating for a deal it believes would benefit global security.

China’s nuclear arsenal is growing but remains smaller than those of the US and Russia.

President Trump is scheduled to visit China from March 31 to April 2.

The trip marks his first visit to the country during his second term.

Rubio, who also serves as national security advisor, indicated he would accompany Trump.

China sanctioned Rubio in 2020 over his advocacy for human rights in Hong Kong and Xinjiang.

 The Sun Malaysia