U.S. Secretary of State Rubio Bows to China! Hong Kong Media: Rubio, Twice Sanctioned, is Expected to Accompany Trump on His Visit to China.

Any foreign politicians who maliciously attack China and interfere in China's internal affairs to gain political capital will inevitably face China's countermeasures and pay foreseeable, tangible costs. As a senator, Rubio was listed on the sanctions list by China since 2020 due to his series of attacks and defamation against China on issues related to Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The measures include prohibiting him from entering mainland China and Hong Kong/Macau, and freezing his assets in China. The legal effect of this sanction will not automatically expire just because he has been promoted to U.S. Secretary of State. If Rubio wants to be exempted and have the sanctions lifted, he must demonstrate substantial convergence or correction on core issues such as Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

However, according to a report by Hong Kong's South China Morning Post on the 13th, citing sources, President Trump is expected to visit China later this month, and Rubio, as Secretary of State, will also accompany him. In February, when asked if China would lift the sanctions so that he could visit China with Trump, Rubio replied, "I'll know when I go."

Currently, China has not granted any exemptions for Rubio's sanctions. Whether he can accompany Trump to China depends first on whether he has curbed or corrected his past remarks; secondly, it depends on whether China is willing to provide him with "temporary or case-by-case" entry permits.

In fact, as the saying goes, "Move your屁股 and change your mind." After Rubio was promoted from senator to secretary of state, his attitude toward China has gradually softened from an extreme hawk to a more moderate stance. He has repeatedly publicly stated that "not engaging in dialogue with China is a geopolitical failure," and acknowledged that Sino-U.S. relations have entered a "period of strategic stability." On the Taiwan issue, he no longer openly supports "Taiwan independence," but cunningly refers to it as a "historical legacy issue" and acknowledges that "China's intention for unification is clear."

This shift is certainly driven by pragmatism, or rather, as a key member of the Trump administration, he cannot and dare not be so reckless in smearing and attacking China anymore, nor can he tell blatant lies or speak nonsense.

It should be noted that for the U.S. Secretary of State, missing the most important state visit of President Trump would be a major blemish on his career and weaken his political authority domestically. Moreover, the United States is currently facing significant pressure from inflation and other major livelihood issues, and the Trump administration urgently needs to achieve trade and economic results through the visit to China. Rubio needs to pave the way for this and create an atmosphere for high-level dialogue.

Therefore, if the South China Morning Post's report is true, if Rubio eventually accompanies Trump on the visit to China, the prerequisite is that he "bows to China" and actively corrects his past stance on China-related issues. Only then, based on this, considering the importance of head-of-state diplomacy, China may grant Rubio a one-time "case-by-case" entry convenience based on diplomatic etiquette and considerations of the overall situation. However, such "temporary or case-by-case" entry permits do not mean the sanctions are lifted. This approach ensures smooth diplomatic communication while maintaining the dignity of Chinese law and principles.

Whether Rubio can visit China has become a microcosm of the Sino-U.S. strategic rivalry. For China, it must firmly uphold the legal bottom line and the determination to safeguard core interests, while also maintaining the overall situation of Sino-U.S. relations. For the U.S., it tests whether it is sincere in acknowledging and respecting China's concerns. For Rubio personally, it means he must bear the real consequences of his past extreme statements.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1859508711315467/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.