Chinese officials are reportedly refusing to discuss Beijing's travel ban on Marco Rubio, a former Republican senator from Florida. Confirmed Monday as U.S. Secretary of State.
Banning America's top diplomats from traveling to China could be a major diplomatic hurdle.
China passed The Foreign Sanctions Act of 2021 was intended to intimidate foreign governments by promising automatic retaliation for any efforts to sanction China for human rights violations.
Look – it begins! Marco Rubio becomes Trump's first Cabinet member:
Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz of Texas were target Sanctions from Beijing in July 2020 because they opposed China's repression of Uyghur Muslims. The United States had just imposed sanctions against Chinese officials involved in what then-Mike Pompeo's department called “horrific and systematic abuses” against the Uyghur people.
So was Rubio. named In retaliatory sanctions, China imposed against US officials in August 2020 after the US cleared 11 Chinese officials for political repression in Hong Kong. Other Republican senators were banned from traveling to China, including Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and former Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) .
“In response to the wrong actions of the United States, China has decided to impose sanctions on individuals who behaved badly on Hong Kong-related issues,” China's Foreign Ministry said at the time.
WATCH – Rand Paul and Marco Rubio interact with China Sanctions at Rubio's confirmation hearing.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Zedong said on Thursday declined Answering questions about whether her government will refuse to deal with Rubio because of the sanctions imposed against him.
“I have no information to share regarding your question,” Mao said to Cartly.
“Let me say more broadly that we need high-level Chinese and U.S. officials to engage with each other in appropriate ways. In the meantime, China will firmly protect its national interests,” she added. Ta.
Mao criticized Rubio discussion China's “dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea” with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo in a Wednesday phone call. Rubio said in the call that China's actions in the waters conflicted with the Philippines. “It undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law.”
“Military cooperation between the United States and the Philippines should not undermine China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. complained.
Wednesday, Mao address a rumor To circumvent anti-foreign sanctions laws, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs changed the original character of the Chinese translation of Rubio's name, effectively treating him as a different person from Sen. Marco Rubio.
“I am not yet aware of what you mentioned,” Mao told a reporter who asked about the name change.
“If you ask me, it's not how his name translates in Chinese, it's his actual name, which is more important,” she added.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington was similarly evasive when Radio Free Asia (RFA) asked about Rubio on Thursday.
“China firmly protects its national interests. In the meantime, it is necessary for high-level Chinese and American officials to maintain contact in an appropriate manner,” an embassy spokesperson said.
The U.S. State Department told RFA that Rubio “has no travel to announce at this time,” clearing up the question of whether a ban on travel to China would be an obstacle. The State Department declined to comment on the potential significance of changing the way China spells Rubio's name.