Munich Security Conference Day 2: Rubio Declares “Old World Gone” as US and China Clash on Global Order
The 62nd Munich Security Conference entered its second day on Saturday with a high-stakes collision of worldviews, as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi took center stage to outline competing visions for the future of international relations.
Deep Search: A Sharp Divergence in Munich
Day 2 opened with a defining address by Secretary Rubio titled “The US in the World.” Far from the reassuring rhetoric of past administrations, Rubio delivered a stark message consistent with the Trump administration’s “America First” doctrine. “The world is changing very fast right in front of us,” Rubio told the packed assembly at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof. “The old world is gone—frankly, the world that I grew up in—and we live in a new era in geopolitics.”
Rubio’s speech was immediately followed by a highly anticipated appearance by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. While Rubio emphasized a pragmatic, interest-based US foreign policy that questions the efficacy of traditional institutions, Wang countered with a defense of “multipolarity.” In a session focused on China’s global role, Wang argued that the inadequacy of the current international system stems not from the United Nations itself, but from nations that “magnify differences” and “revive Cold War mentality”—a thinly veiled critique of Washington’s stance.
Objections: Friction Points and Global Anxiety
The atmosphere in Munich was charged with palpable anxiety regarding the US trajectory. Rubio did not shy away from controversy, explicitly criticizing the United Nations for playing “virtually no role” in resolving modern conflicts, a statement that drew murmurs of dissent from European delegates committed to multilateralism.
Critics at the conference voiced concerns that the US is retreating into transactionalist diplomacy. European leaders, already rattled by recent US tariff threats and unconventional diplomatic maneuvers—including reported American interest in purchasing Greenland—expressed fears that the transatlantic alliance is being treated as a business arrangement rather than a security guarantee.
On the Chinese side, objections centered on US interference in the Indo-Pacific. Wang Yi reportedly delivered a stern message to his US counterpart, cautioning against “zero-sum games” and warning that attempts to decouple from China would ultimately backfire. This follows a tense exchange earlier in the year where Wang used the idiom hao zi wei zhi (“look out for yourself”) during a call with Rubio, signaling Beijing’s hardening stance on Taiwan and technology sanctions.
Background Info: The Road to Beijing
This high-profile public exchange occurs against a backdrop of intense diplomatic maneuvering. Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Wang held a private bilateral meeting on Friday, described by both sides as “positive and constructive” despite the public friction. These interactions are critical preparation for President Donald Trump’s expected state visit to China in April 2026.
Relations between the world’s two largest economies have been stabilizing tentatively after a volatile 2025, which saw momentary flare-ups over steep US tariffs. However, fundamental disagreements remain. The US administration continues to push for a reshaping of post-WWII institutions it views as outdated, while Beijing seeks to position itself as the champion of the Global South and a stabilizer of the international order. As the conference continues, the divergence between Rubio’s “new era” and Wang’s “multipolar” vision sets the tone for the challenging diplomatic road ahead.
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