Trump selects Marco Rubio, seasoned China critic, as Secretary of State

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Marco Rubio, the three-term senator from Florida, as his nominee for secretary of state, signaling a shift to a more robust foreign policy approach in the upcoming administration.

“He will be a strong Advocate for our Nation, a true friend to our Allies, and a fearless Warrior who will never back down to our adversaries. I look forward to working with Marco to Make America, and the World, Safe and Great Again!”

If confirmed by the Senate, Rubio will become the first Latino to serve as the nation’s top diplomat.

In a statement to The Epoch Times, Rubio expressed gratitude to Trump for entrusting him with this “tremendous responsibility.”

“I will work every day to carry out his foreign policy agenda,” he affirmed. “We will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else.”

Following Trump’s election triumph, Rubio outlined on Nov. 6 the United States’ intention to pursue a more pragmatic foreign policy, citing the alliance between North Korea, Iran, China, and Russia.

A Focus on China

Despite their past clashes, Trump and Rubio collaborated on foreign policy matters after Trump assumed office in 2017, particularly concerning Latin America. Rubio was considered as a potential vice presidential candidate until Trump announced Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) as his running mate on July 15.

As the vice-ranking member of the Select Committee on Intelligence and a senior member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, Rubio has advocated for a tougher stance against human rights violators like China.

His legislative initiatives emphasize taking a strong stance against the Chinese regime, prioritizing countering China’s ambitions to surpass the United States through trade theft and coercion.

During the COVID-19 crisis, China’s dominant position in manufacturing became apparent as Beijing’s stringent lockdowns disrupted global supply chains.

“Imagine if they decide to deny us the same things, but not because of a pandemic, but because they want to threaten us into not getting involved in whatever it is they’re deciding to do around the world,” he remarked, highlighting the U.S. reliance on China for key resources like antibiotics, generic drugs, and technology components.

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If China launches an assault on Taiwan, which has been facing increased military pressure from Beijing, these resources could be used as tools by the regime against the United States, he cautioned.

His collaboration with the House Select Committee on China aimed to introduce legislation to curb U.S. tax benefits for China-focused investments and urge other federal agencies to address national security issues posed by Chinese entities.