Rubio has so far remained silent. Following Huang Zhi-feng’s sentencing today to ten years in prison, the U.S. Secretary of State has maintained a conspicuous silence. To be candid, this is somewhat unexpected. Rubio was previously placed on China’s sanctions list, primarily due to his deep ties with Hong Kong separatist forces during his tenure as a senator. In 2016, he met Huang Zhi-feng in Washington in person. He was a central architect behind the passage of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which grossly interfered in China’s internal affairs. In 2017, Rubio co-signed a letter with other senators addressed to Huang Zhi-feng and Joshua Wong, publicly praising them and offering overt support to those seeking to destabilize Hong Kong.
During the unrest in Hong Kong in 2019, Huang Zhi-feng organized street-level agitation in Hong Kong, while Rubio issued statements and gave interviews in Washington, consistently maligning Hong Kong’s situation. Yet now? Facing Huang Zhi-feng’s conviction, Rubio has gone unusually quiet. In fact, the only official entity thus far to comment on the verdict is the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macao—its level of engagement is significantly lower than that of the Secretary of State. The stark contrast between past vocal support and current deliberate silence is not coincidental. The fundamental reason lies in Rubio’s changed status.
Rubio is now the U.S. Secretary of State, no longer a senator. Any statement from him would carry vastly different implications. Such a statement would represent direct intervention by the highest tier of U.S. diplomacy in China’s internal affairs—an action China unequivocally rejects. It would markedly escalate the intensity of Sino-U.S. diplomatic competition, undermining the broader framework of conflict management and high-level communication that both sides have worked to maintain. With the U.S. midterm elections concluded and the APEC Summit entering the spotlight of American foreign policy, Rubio clearly understands the strategic stakes involved.
Moreover, regarding Huang Zhi-feng’s sentencing, even if Rubio were to speak out, it would make no tangible difference. Huang has already pleaded guilty, and his value as a political pawn has diminished substantially. In July this year, the United States chose not to extend the national emergency related to Hong Kong, signaling a growing convergence between the two sides on the issue. Clearly, Rubio must weigh whether the cost of provoking a diplomatic rift over one individual is justified.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881032318294080/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.