Beijing's lack of clarity about Rubio sanctions sparks speculation in China 

washington — 

Beijing’s deficiency of clarity astir whether it volition assistance sanctions antecedently placed connected Marco Rubio — the caller U.S. caput of authorities and a China hawk — has sparked speculation connected Chinese societal media astir whether Rubio volition go the archetypal American diplomat successful his presumption who can’t sojourn China.

On Baidu, China’s astir fashionable hunt engine, sitting atop the trending illustration Tuesday nighttime was the question, “Will China region sanctions connected the caller U.S. Secretary of State?”

On Weibo, China’s microblogging tract akin to X, netizens wonderment if Rubio volition go the archetypal U.S. caput of authorities who won’t beryllium capable to travel to China.

“This feline has been barred from entering China, fto unsocial visiting China,” 1 Weibo idiosyncratic commented. “It’s present a question however helium volition beryllium capable to woody with China.”

Tough connected China

Rubio, the archetypal Cabinet subordinate of the 2nd Trump medication to beryllium confirmed by the Senate, was sworn successful Tuesday. He was 1 of the toughest legislature lawmakers connected China during his 14-year tenure arsenic a senator.

Rubio introduced bills, made statements and worked with rights groups that were highly captious of China’s quality rights grounds and increasing power astir the world. A Chinese authorities media nonfiction erstwhile called him “one of America's astir extremist anti-China politicians.”

In 2020, wrong a month, the Chinese authorities sanctioned Rubio twice.

The archetypal was announced successful July of that twelvemonth arsenic portion of the retaliation against the U.S. government’s sanctions against a Chinese authorities section and 4 officials successful Xinjiang for quality rights violations alleged to person taken spot successful the region. The 2nd 1 was announced successful August aft Washington sanctioned 11 Chinese and Hong Kong officials.

“I don’t privation to beryllium paranoid, but I americium starting to deliberation they don’t similar me,” Rubio tweeted sarcastically backmost past aft learning astir the sanctions.

During his confirmation proceeding past week, Rubio reaffirmed his presumption connected China, asserting that China remains the “biggest threat” to the United States successful the 21st century.

“If we don’t alteration course, we are going to unrecorded successful the satellite wherever overmuch of what matters to america connected a regular ground from our information to our wellness volition beryllium babelike connected whether the Chinese let america to person it oregon not,” helium said during the hearing.

On China’s heavy censored internet, astir of the comments connected his swearing-in person been negative.

In a projected Cabinet lineup that includes candidates who are controversial, Rubio stands retired arsenic 1 with bipartisan support. He received a unanimous 99 confirmation votes.

Experts accidental that however Rubio approaches China volition beryllium mostly connected President Donald Trump.

“Rubio has a agelong past of moving connected China. But everyone successful the Cabinet is loyal to Trump. I bash deliberation Trump volition beryllium the eventual determination shaper connected China,” Yun Sun, a elder chap and co-director of the East Asia Program and manager of the China Program astatine the Stimson Center, told VOA Mandarin.

“Any China argumentation volition beryllium a equilibrium of issues to scope what Trump defines arsenic American nationalist interests. Hawkish views and affable views volition some beryllium a portion of the deal,” she said.

Necessary to 'maintain contact'

In his caller role, Rubio has enactment Beijing successful a peculiar position. The Chinese authorities has not publically sent a wide awesome regarding questions astir whether it volition assistance sanctions connected him to let him to visit.

When asked if China would driblet the sanctions, Guo Jiakun, a spokesperson for China’s overseas ministry, said Tuesday astatine the regular property conference, "China volition firmly support nationalist interests. In the meantime, it's indispensable for high-level Chinese and American officials to support interaction successful an due way."

Recent online speculation astir Rubio has evolved since societal media users noticed the Chinese authorities ostensibly changed its translation of Rubio’s name.

Claims circulated that Beijing changed the translation truthful that it could assistance sanctions connected Rubio without looking embarrassed, due to the fact that present China tin accidental the sanctions were aimed astatine a antithetic idiosyncratic than Rubio.

But the alleged caller translation isn’t caller astatine all. The archetypal translation has been the astir wide utilized for Rubio successful Chinese authorities documents and media. However, arsenic aboriginal arsenic 2019, People’s Daily, Beijing’s flagship authorities media outlet and a mouthpiece of the Chinese Communist Party, utilized the 2nd translation to notation to Rubio successful an onslaught article.

Transcripts from China’s overseas ministry besides amusement that erstwhile the 2 sanctions connected him were unveiled successful 2020, Rubio was referred to by a 3rd saltation of his name.

The speculation garnered truthful overmuch attraction that Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s overseas ministry, was asked astir it connected Wednesday astatine a property conference.

“I americium not yet alert of what you mentioned,” she said.

Lin Yang contributed to this report.