US and China Trade Barbs at Munich Summit, Manage Rivalry Ahead of Trump Trip
Top diplomats clash over Taiwan and 'exclusive circles' while pledging cooperation.
Deep Dive
At the Munich Security Conference, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered back-to-back speeches aimed at managing superpower tensions. While both spoke of carefully managing differences, Wang accused some in the US of trying to 'split Taiwan from China,' calling it a major red line. The exchange continues a relative thaw expected to see President Donald Trump travel to Beijing in April.
Why It Matters
The delicate diplomacy sets the stage for a high-stakes Trump-Xi meeting, with Taiwan remaining the most volatile flashpoint.