China-ASEAN Meeting: Wang Yi Holds High-Stakes Talks

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi convened with ASEAN counterparts in Manila on July 22 for the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, marking the 5th anniversary of the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. On the sidelines, Wang held separate, high-stakes meetings with Philippine Foreign Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as tensions simmer following a violent maritime clash at Second Thomas Shoal (Ren’ai Reef) just two days earlier.

A Partnership at Five Years

Co-chaired by Wang Yi and Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad—the ASEAN-China coordinator—the meeting drew all ASEAN foreign ministers and the ASEAN Secretary-General. According to Xinhua News, Wang described the partnership as one that “walks at the forefront, moves steadily, and progresses rapidly,” delivering tangible benefits to over 2 billion people across China and Southeast Asia.

Wang put forward four proposals: maintaining regional peace, enhancing development resilience, promoting innovation and green development, and people-centered cooperation. He urged all parties to resist “external forces fanning the flames” and to oppose individual countries “making trouble at sea,” emphasizing that regional nations must firmly grasp the dominant power of maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea.

The meeting adopted the “China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Joint Statement on Responding to the Impact of the Evolving Middle East Situation on the Region and Strengthening Regional Energy Cooperation,” reflecting the broader geopolitical context of the Iran war crisis and its impact on global energy markets.

Blunt Exchange with Philippine Counterpart

Wang Yi’s meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Lazaro was marked by unusually direct language. As reported by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang strongly protested the “violent ramming” of Chinese law enforcement vessels by Philippine personnel at Ren’ai Reef on July 20.

“Every time China and the Philippines are about to engage in dialogue, some forces in the Philippines, especially in the military and police, deliberately create incidents to sabotage the progress of dialogue,” Wang told Lazaro, according to Guancha.cn. “These people harbor ill intentions—they are not thinking about the welfare of the Filipino people, but are carrying out the will of external forces and pursuing personal interests.”

Wang emphasized that China has never been a security threat to the Philippines, noting that China has never invaded or colonized the country in history. He demanded that Manila immediately stop its provocative actions on maritime issues and honor its commitments to Beijing.

Lazaro, while lodging a protest over China’s recent actions in the West Philippine Sea per the Manila Bulletin, reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to the One-China policy, stating that “there is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.”

A ‘Big Year’ for U.S.-China Relations

Wang Yi also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang described 2026 as a “big year” for China-U.S. relations, referencing the historic Beijing summit between the two heads of state that established a framework for “constructive strategic stability.”

“Our responsibility now is to follow the track set by the two heads of state, eliminate interference, overcome obstacles, and ensure that the consensus of the leaders is translated into consensus and action across the entire government and all fields,” Wang said.

Both sides described the meeting as “pragmatic, positive, and constructive” and agreed to work toward implementing the leaders’ consensus and preparing for the next phase of high-level exchanges. However, Wang also raised concerns about “a series of negative U.S. actions and statements” and demanded respect for China’s core interests and the One-China principle.

The Code of Conduct Window

A central theme running through Wang’s engagements was the urgency of finalizing a binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. Wang emphasized that there is an “important time window” to reach the COC this year, urging all parties to strictly adhere to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) while resisting external interference.

As The Diplomat reported, the ASEAN meetings were overshadowed not only by maritime tensions but also by the broader fallout from the Iran war, which has significantly impacted energy markets across Southeast Asia. The joint statement adopted by the meeting reflects ASEAN’s attempt to navigate carefully between major powers while addressing the region’s pressing energy security concerns.

What to Watch

The July 20 clash at Second Thomas Shoal has injected new urgency into China-Philippines relations, which have been strained by Manila’s deepening security ties with Washington. Whether the COC negotiations can achieve a breakthrough by the end of 2026 remains an open question, as does the trajectory of U.S.-China competition in the Indo-Pacific. What is clear is that all parties are maneuvering for position in a region increasingly shaped by great-power rivalry, energy insecurity, and the search for diplomatic equilibrium.