China and US meet in Manila to prep Xi's Washington visit

Top diplomats from the United States and China met on Wednesday to lay the groundwork for a planned state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Washington in September, even as tensions over maritime disputes and other geopolitical rivalries simmered in the background. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks for about 90 minutes on the sidelines of a regional summit in Manila, Philippines, hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Rubio told reporters the two discussed at length the need to prepare for a "very positive visit" by Xi. He acknowledged significant differences between the two nations but said their job was to manage those differences so they "never get out of control." According to an official Chinese summary, Wang demanded that the U.S. respect China's core interests, effectively manage disagreements, and address Beijing's legitimate concerns. The Chinese foreign ministry described the meeting as "pragmatic, positive, and constructive," and both sides agreed to make sound preparations for upcoming high-level exchanges.

The diplomatic engagement occurs amid a fragile period in U.S.-China relations....