Trump's Top Diplomatic Priority is 'Containing China'... US Secretary of State Makes Diplomatic Debut at Quad Meeting (Comprehensive)

'China Hawk' Mark Rubio Appointed Secretary of State
Debuts with Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting
Trump's Second Term to Use Quad as Leverage Against China

Mark Rubio, who took office as the head of foreign affairs in the second Trump administration in the United States, began his first schedule with a meeting with the foreign ministers of the Quad (Quad: a security consultative group consisting of the United States, Japan, Australia, and India) allied countries. This move is analyzed as indicating that the top priority of Trump’s second-term diplomacy is to check China.

On the afternoon of the 21st (local time), Rubio held a foreign ministers' meeting with Japan, Australia, and India at the State Department building in Washington D.C. On the same day, after the four-party meeting, he also held bilateral talks with Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeki Iwaya, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar.

The foreign ministers of the four Quad countries reaffirmed their joint commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific where the rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are supported and protected, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting. They also strongly opposed unilateral actions aimed at changing the status quo by force or coercion, indirectly criticizing China’s military provocations in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.

The Quad is a security consultative group among the United States, Japan, Australia, and India focused on countering China. It was launched under U.S. leadership in 2007 but ceased activities after Australia withdrew a year later. The group resumed activities in 2017 during Trump’s first term.

With Rubio starting his first official schedule with the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting, expectations are growing that President Trump will actively use the Quad as a lever to check China in the Indo-Pacific region. China has criticized the Quad as the “Asian version of NATO.”

Rubio, known as a “China hawk,” said in an NBC News interview that morning, “Today, I will hold a Quad meeting with the foreign ministers of Australia, India, and Japan,” adding, “Through this, we will reaffirm the importance of cooperating with global allies on issues important to the United States and Americans.”

Foreign media, citing sources, reported that the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting could lead to a Quad summit early in President Trump’s term.

Rubio, who was officially appointed as Secretary of State after passing the Senate confirmation process the day before, confirmed the diplomatic policy of prioritizing U.S. national interests as his inaugural statement. He took the oath of office in front of Vice President J.D. Vance at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building of the White House and said, “President Trump’s main foreign policy pledge is to make the United States and the promotion of national interests the State Department’s priority.” He further explained, “Everything the State Department does must answer three questions: Does it make us stronger, does it make us safer, and does it make us more prosperous?”

Earlier, President Trump declared through an executive order directed at the State Department that U.S. foreign policy prioritizes protecting America’s core interests and putting the United States and Americans first. He instructed the Secretary of State to prepare policy, personnel, and operational guidelines consistent with America First foreign policy.

Meanwhile, in the NBC interview, Rubio emphasized that all parties need to make concessions for peace in Ukraine. When asked about the possibility of Russia retaining Ukrainian territory without any cost, he responded that Russia has already paid a price through sanctions, high inflation, and human casualties.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.