U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea in New York ahead of a summit this week between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The meetings take place Monday as the three U.S. allies prepare to speak during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Rubio is also positioned to engage with partners.
Officials and analysts say the consultations reflect concerns that the United States could make concessions to China in return for economic gains. They focus on potential U.S. positions related to Taiwan and on the terms of any trade commitments announced during the Trump–Xi summit. The outlets report that even relatively small changes in trade barriers for China could affect how U.S. allies compete in regional markets.
Reporting also indicates that Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung are scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, overlapping with the diplomatic outreach by Rubio. The meeting includes photo opportunities but no reporter questions before or during the session described.
