Sanctioned by China, Rubio may be barred from joining Trumpэs visit
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is under Chinese sanctions. China’s Foreign Ministry commented on whether he would be allowed to enter the country as part of the American delegation during a visit, according to Reuters and the Financial Times.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun responded during a briefing to a question about whether Rubio would be allowed to enter China during the visit of US President Donald Trump.
“China's sanctions were aimed at Mr. Rubio's words and deeds concerning China during his tenure in the United States Senate,” he said.
Sanctions against Rubio
China imposed sanctions on Rubio in 2020, when he was a US senator. This was a response to his sharp criticism of Beijing over human rights abuses in Xinjiang and his support for US laws and sanctions targeting Chinese and Hong Kong officials.
China’s restrictions include a ban on entering the country and other sanctions, while Beijing accused the politician of “interfering in China’s internal affairs.”
Trump visit at risk
The Financial Times writes that Trump threatened to postpone a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping if China does not help with security in the Strait of Hormuz.
“I think China should help too because China gets 90% of its oil from the Straits. We may delay,” the US president said.
The summit between the US and Chinese leaders is scheduled for the end of March, but Trump has now suggested it could be postponed indefinitely.
Summit with Xi Jinping
In the coming weeks, the US president is expected to travel to the region for a crucial meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. China’s Foreign Ministry has already confirmed that the war in the Middle East will not prevent the summit from taking place, which is expected to address key disagreements between Beijing and Washington.
Recently, the leaders of the two countries held a phone call. Politico believes the conversation was preparation for a new visit. During the call, they discussed various issues, ranging from trade problems to external conflicts.
According to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, dialogue between the United States and China is “vital” to prevent global mistakes.
