China hawk Rubio kicks off Trump's foreign policy with Indo-Pacific 'Quad' meeting

Trump's new secretary of state met with his counterparts from Australia, India and Japan to discuss countering China's rising power.

Transcript

00:00On his first full day as U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio met with his counterparts

00:08from Japan, India and Australia, a group known as the Quad.

00:13The grouping of the four countries has been seen by many as an initiative to counter or

00:17at least slow China's increasing assertiveness in the region.

00:22Rubio is known for his hardline stance against China, and the timing of the meeting suggests

00:26combating China's influence will remain a top priority for Trump and his chief diplomat.

00:33After his confirmation, Rubio stressed that he will execute President Trump's America

00:38First mantra in his foreign policy.

00:41In our republic, the voters decide the course of our nation, both domestically and abroad.

00:47And they have elected Donald J. Trump as our president when it comes to foreign policy

00:50on a very clear mission.

00:52And that mission is to ensure that our foreign policy is centered on one thing, and that

00:56is the advancement of our national interests, which they have clearly defined through his

01:00campaign as anything that makes us stronger or safer or more prosperous.

01:08But just as Donald Trump brings his more unilateralist approach against China back to the White House,

01:13China is also seeking to improve relations with U.S. allies.

01:17From China's point of view, improving relations with countries like Japan and India and increasing

01:22economic cooperation will offset the shocks to China-U.S. economic relations.