In a surprising development, President Donald Trump has declared Senator Marco Rubio, a noted China hawk, as his pick for the role of Secretary of State. Tough-on-China Rubio’s nomination follows a bitter rivalry between him and Trump during the 2016 presidential nomination.
Trump, who is renowned for his unconventional decisions and surprising turns, once again bucked the trend by nominating someone who was a staunch rival in 2016. However, through his nomination, Trump notably stated that “Marco is a Highly Respected Leader, and a very powerful Voice for Freedom.”
Rubio is a long known critic of China and its human rights record. His approach towards China has been far from diplomatic and he often used assertive and harsh criticism while addressing Beijing’s handling of the human rights issue and intellectual property theft. As such, his new role may lead to escalated tensions between the two superpowers.
However, it seems apparent that the Trump administration feels this hard-line approach towards the Chinese government will beneficially serve American interests on the global stage. This nomination also underscores the current administration’s sentiments towards China, where issues such as trade deficits, technology transfer, and China’s posturing in the South China Sea have been sore points.
Responding to the nomination, Rubio announced, “Under the leadership of President Trump, we will deliver peace through strength and always put the interests of Americans and America above all else”. The statement further underscores his commitment and echoes Trump’s ‘America First’ policy, a hallmark of the President’s term.
While some skeptics point out that this nomination could potentially exacerbate the somewhat frigid relations between China and the United States, others believe that this could be an opportunity to pressure China into addressing the very issues Rubio criticized.
Critics might argue that Trump’s decision reflects a strategic shift in the administration’s foreign policy given that the China issue has been at the center of many trade and economic controversies under President Trump’s first term.
In the past few years, there have been increasingly strained relations between China and the United States, with numerous confrontations over issues such as trade, technology, human rights, and the origins of the coronavirus. In fact, the two countries are seen as being in a new era of Cold War-style standoff, and Rubio’s hawkish stance may be the firm arm that Washington needs to deal with Beijing.
However, it also cannot be overlooked that while Rubio represents a hawkish stance towards China, he also possesses a deep understanding of legislative nuances and is known for his ability to communicate complex positions effectively, as seen from his tenure in the Senate.
This nomination marks a crucial milestone in the Trump administration’s foreign policy evolution. Rubio, with his nuanced understanding of major geopolitical issues, his hard-line approach to China, and his dedication to American interests, promises a new chapter in the ever-evolving relationship between the US and China.
Thus, in spite of what might have transpired during the 2016 Presidential Nomination journey, President Trump’s nomination of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State underlines his confidence in Rubio as a strategic leader who can powerfully represent American interests on the global stage. Only time, however, will tell what this change will mean for the future of US-China relations.
