"China is a wealthy and powerful country that plays an important role in geopolitics. The United States must maintain relations with China," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at the State Department's year-end press conference. (Reuters)

Rubio made clear that the United States will seek ways to cooperate with China while upholding Washington’s security commitments to Japan and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

As reported by The Japan Times, Rubio noted at the December 19 (Friday) briefing that despite significant differences with China on numerous issues, the U.S. still needs to engage with the world’s second-largest economy. He emphasized that China remains a major power and will continue to play a pivotal geopolitical role.

During his tenure as a U.S. senator, Rubio was long regarded as a China hawk. However, he stated on Friday that he considers himself "always been pretty friendly" toward China.

When asked about recent tensions between China and Japan, Rubio described the rift as having a "long history." He said, "I firmly believe we can maintain a strong partnership and alliance with Japan while engaging in productive cooperation with the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government."

Rubio framed the U.S. stance as rooted in realpolitik. "At the end of the day, China is a wealthy and powerful country—now and in the future. It plays an important role in geopolitics. We have to maintain relations with them. We have to deal with them. We have to find areas where we can cooperate," he explained.

"I think both the United States and China are mature enough to recognize that there will be points of friction now and in the foreseeable future," Rubio added.

"China is a wealthy and powerful country that plays an important role in geopolitics. The United States must maintain relations with China," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated at the State Department's year-end press conference. (Reuters)

Rubio made clear that the United States will seek ways to cooperate with China while upholding Washington’s security commitments to Japan and other allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

As reported by The Japan Times, Rubio noted at the December 19 (Friday) briefing that despite significant differences with China on numerous issues, the U.S. still needs to engage with the world’s second-largest economy. He emphasized that China remains a major power and will continue to play a pivotal geopolitical role.

During his tenure as a U.S. senator, Rubio was long regarded as a China hawk. However, he stated on Friday that he considers himself "always been pretty friendly" toward China.

When asked about recent tensions between China and Japan, Rubio described the rift as having a "long history." He said, "I firmly believe we can maintain a strong partnership and alliance with Japan while engaging in productive cooperation with the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government."

Rubio framed the U.S. stance as rooted in realpolitik. "At the end of the day, China is a wealthy and powerful country—now and in the future. It plays an important role in geopolitics. We have to maintain relations with them. We have to deal with them. We have to find areas where we can cooperate," he explained.

"I think both the United States and China are mature enough to recognize that there will be points of friction now and in the foreseeable future," Rubio added.