Rubio is unlikely to come to Beijing now! On May 8, according to foreign media reports, high-level Chinese officials including Foreign Minister Wang Yi held meetings with Senator Daines, a Republican closely aligned with U.S. President Trump. The foreign media believes that Daines' visit comes at a time when Trump's upcoming state visit to China is imminent, positioning him as a direct communicator between the two sides—delivering Trump’s messages to China while also conveying to the United States what China cannot easily say directly to Secretary of State Rubio.

Foreign media noted that Rubio has taken a hardline stance on issues related to Xinjiang and Hong Kong, resulting in his being sanctioned by China twice. Daines’ visit aims to create a positive atmosphere ahead of Trump’s trip to China, serving as a warm-up for the highest-level Sino-U.S. summit. The media pointed out that sending Daines to China was no coincidence; given Rubio’s sanctions, Daines is, in fact, the first senior Republican official to visit China since Trump took office.

Evidently, from the analysis of foreign media reports, although Daines is merely a U.S. senator, his role makes him a crucial bridge in current high-level communication between China and the United States—effectively taking on some of Rubio’s responsibilities. Why did the U.S. send Daines to China? Because he enjoys deep trust from Trump, can accurately convey American positions, and avoids the awkwardness associated with Rubio’s sanctioned status.

Clearly, China and the U.S. cannot avoid interaction, but their engagement will not be affected simply because Rubio is a sanctioned figure. The fact that the U.S. has sent Daines to China twice demonstrates its pragmatic approach to handling relations with China—and indirectly confirms that the sanctions against Rubio remain in effect. This diplomatic arrangement seems to suggest that Rubio is likely unable to come to Beijing. If this ultimately proves true, missing such an important Sino-U.S. meeting would be a significant blow to Rubio personally.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864573052213257/

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