Kuala lumpur: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi did not issue any warnings regarding the "welcoming" of U.S. stopovers by President Lai Ching-te during their discussions at the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Malaysia.

According to Focus Taiwan, Rubio addressed the matter during a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, emphasizing that the meeting with Wang was not characterized by warnings. Rubio was responding to inquiries about whether Wang had brought up Lai's transit visits through the U.S. in their talks.

In late 2024, China expressed a "stern" protest to Washington following Lai's transit stops in Hawaii and Guam during a seven-day trip to the South Pacific. Despite this, Rubio clarified that the meeting did not involve discussions about Taiwan's ongoing Han Kuang drills, which commenced on July 9.

Rubio described the meeting as constructive and productive, highlighting that neither side issued warnings. He mentioned that both countries' positions on Taiwan are well-known, indicating there were no surprises in their discussions.

Following Rubio's remarks, U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Mignon Houston reiterated that the longstanding relationship between Washington and Taipei remains unchanged under the Trump administration. Houston emphasized the U.S.'s commitment to working with Taiwan and supporting its participation in international forums, ensuring that Taiwan's safety, security, and confidence are respected.