Trump May Appoint China Hawk Rubio as Secretary of State; Previously Pushed to Crack Down on Chinese Firms (AI Translation)

特朗普或任命极端对华鹰派卢比奥担任国务卿 曾推动打压中国企业

Reports from prominent media including The New York Times, NPR, and Reuters suggest that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump plans to nominate Marco Rubio, a 53-year-old Cuban-American Senator from Florida, as the Secretary of State in the upcoming administration. Rubio, known for his strong stance on China, has been sanctioned by Beijing multiple times due to his critical positions related to China. Although Trump's decision might change, Rubio's nomination seems likely. Earlier, Trump had considered Rubio as a potential running mate during his vice-presidential selection process. The position of Secretary of State is the top post in the U.S. diplomatic system, requiring Senate confirmation, but with a Republican majority in the Senate, approval is expected to be smooth. Alongside, Trump is also likely to appoint another China hawk, Florida Representative Mike Waltz, as National Security Advisor, a role not requiring congressional approval.[para. 1][para. 2][para. 3]

Following the announcement about Trump's appointments, Hong Kong's stock market faced a sharp decline, indicating economic circles' anticipation of continued trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Marco Rubio, born in 1971 in Miami to Cuban immigrants, would become the first Latino U.S. Secretary of State if confirmed. As a U.S. Senator since 2010, Rubio ran in the 2016 Republican primaries, briefly against Trump, before becoming a proponent of Trump's platform. Rubio's appeal to Latino voters was noted during the 2024 election preparations, where he introduced Trump in Spanish at a rally, highlighting the Republican shift among the Hispanic electorate.[para. 4][para. 5]

The Hispanic demographic, currently the fastest-growing electorate in the U.S., showed an unexpected level of support for Trump during elections. This trend was critical to Trump's victory, with notable shifts observed in Florida, where Latino populations strongly favored the Republican Party. Rubio's staunch positions on China are prominent within the Republican Party, viewing China's economic rise as a significant threat that requires assertive containment measures. Rubio has served on both the U.S. Senate Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committees, advocating policies countering Chinese economic influence and promoting various sanctions, some of which have maintained bipartisan support even beyond Trump's presidency. Rubio has faced Chinese sanctions himself, notably over issues like Xinjiang and Hong Kong.[para. 6][para. 7][para. 8]

As early as 2019, Rubio had raised concerns about TikTok's content moderation related to Hong Kong protests and sought an investigation into its parent company ByteDance. Recently, amid tensions between Israel and Palestine, Rubio has renewed calls for TikTok's shutdown, accusing it of minimizing Hamas's actions. In September 2024, Rubio co-sponsored a bill attempting to revoke China's Permanent Normal Trade Relations status, an effort recurring since 2022, which has potential trade implications.[para. 9][para. 10]

Rubio's foreign policy perspectives include a firm stance on supporting Taiwan against potential threats and skepticism towards joining NATO amidst the Ukraine conflict. He shares Trump's view that the Russia-Ukraine war should wrap up quickly through negotiations, reflecting a cautious approach towards further military support for Ukraine. Beyond China and Ukraine, Rubio maintains tough policies towards Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and is vocally supportive of Israel's actions against Hamas. Revisiting Trump's previous foreign policy moves, such as withdrawing from TPP and potentially the Paris Agreement, Rubio seems poised to uphold a similar line if confirmed as Secretary of State, maintaining a hard-nosed international approach alongside Trump.[para. 11][para. 12][para. 13]